CARE

SUPERVISE CHILDREN

Children can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons; adults should always supervise young children—especially those under eight years old—with balloons.

BE AWARE OF LATEX ALLERGIES

Latex balloons are made of natural rubber latex and are biodegradable, but may cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to natural rubber latex. If guests at your event are vulnerable, make sure they are aware.

HOW LONG WILL THE BALLOONS LAST?

I choose Qualatex latex balloons for my installations because of their superior quality and longevity. There are certain conditions and practices that can help to protect.

Balloons burst! The most important precaution is to keep your balloons away from sharp objects and rough surfaces.

As soon as a balloon is inflated and exposed to the air it will begin to degrade. The first thing you may notice is that the balloons lose their shine and take on a velvety matt finish. This is due to oxidisation, a natural reaction between the latex and the oxygen in the air. Products are available to help  maintain balloon shine but if you embrace the new texture, you will get prolonged enjoyment from your display.

 Balloons outside will degrade most quickly. Exposure to wind, moisture, heat and direct sunlight causes the latex to weaken and makes it susceptable to bursting. Therefore, I only recommend exterior and outdoor installations for a one-day event.

Interior installations, kept inside and protected from the elements can last a number of weeks, although they will look their best for the first week or so.

Twisted elements made from modelling balloons have a shorter life because of the thinner latex used to make the balloons.

DISPOSE OF BALLOONS CORRECTLY

When you are finished with a balloon, snip the end of the balloon with scissors or pop it with a pin and put the biodegradable latex waste in the bin with general waste. Read my Environmental Stance for more information.