How to blow up a paddling pool in minutes when you DON’T have a pump and it’s too big to inflate yourself
THERE’S nothing quite a paddling pool in the garden on a warm summer day.
But, as any parent knows, inflating them can be a real chore – especially when you’re relying on a foot pump or your lungs.
Fortunately, there’s a simple household item that can save you time and effort.
That is the humble hair dryer.
The hair dryer’s concentrated airflow is perfect for quickly filling up a paddling pool, and can be injected directly or through a makeshift nozzle.
According to mum-of-two and home-fluencer Cleaning With Courteney, the hack is “life changing”.
Taking to TikTok in a now-viral video, she shared a video tutorial and advised fellow parents to “use a hair dryer on cool setting to fill your child’s paddling pool”.
Courteney dubbed her method “so much quicker” than other ways of using a foot pump or trying to blow it up with your mouth.
“Our pump broke a while ago,” she added in the comments.
“This would have been done on pure lungs if not.”
Hair dryers are typically used to dry and style tresses.
But their powerful blowers make them ideal for inflating large items quickly.
By converting a hair dryer into an inflation tool, you can bypass the struggle of manual pumps and save your breath – literally.
It’s imperative you only try the hack with cool air as using the hot setting can damage the pool.
As heat can weaken the plastic of the paddling pool, you may put yourself at risk of potential leaks or bursts.
Fellow mums took to the comments of Courteney’s video to share their experience.
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Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down.
Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool.
Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.
“I did this exact thing today,” one penned.
“It works great.”
“I literally just tried it and it worked,” another beamed.
“Maybe a little blowing it myself afterwards, but sure will help.”
Sammy Beer weighed in that she’s “been doing this for ages”.