Kid Wash

Another pin on Pinterest that John helps make a reality. 

I had seen this one during my summer planning.  I also saw it in our Lowe’s Creativity and Family Fun magazines that we get.  I remember having a hot wheel car wash when we were kids, okay my brothers had it, but we all played with it.  I think John had one too growing up and we thought he kids would love one.

John bought all the parts and cut the PVC.  We used the plans from Family Fun with a few changes.  John decided not to make the stop and go sign.  In our family someone would probably get close-lined with that!  Once everything was ready we had the boys assemble it.

The idea was not to glue the PVC pipes together so we could take it apart and store it in the winter.  The Kid Wash was put together in no time.  I had bought the noodle for the top, but I hadn’t found any large sponges. I’ve looked when I thought about it and still haven’t found any or at prices I’m willing to pay for sponges on a toy!  We let them run through it for their first night with the Kid Wash.

I think they enjoyed it!  One thing not mentioned in the magazines- that thing runs through water!!  I’m very water conscience, not wanting to water the grass too much, or use water when you don’t have to.  Well, John told ME he might have to limit how many times I let the kids play in it and for how long.  I agreed no need to play in the Kid Wash for hours every night!  Too much water!  So, it was a few days until I let them use it again.

This time I was willing to let them ride their bikes through it.  Here is another thing they didn’t mention in the magazines, kids tend to close their eyes as they go through the water running into the poles and breaking the Kid Wash.  It does go back together easily, so after Caleb took out a pole, we turned off the water, and put it back together.  Then we had Ian take out Makaela who just wanted to stand in the water.  Then someone else went through it and took out a pole again.  It was one thing after another, so I was never able to get pictures of them and then decided that was enough no more bikes. 


Once I decided no bikes we moved it to the grass.  I thought at least we would water the grass with all that water.

After about five minutes it dumped enough water on the grass that it was getting muddy and they were starting to trample the grass.  So, we turned off the water AGAIN, and moved it. 

It wasn’t too much longer before that spot was getting muddy and someone had run into a pole and made it come apart again.  So, we said done for the day.


Part of me wants to glue the parts together so we don’t have to keep fixing it as they play; but then they would probably break it.  I also have thought about getting John to cut the cross pieces longer so they can ride through it without taking it out.  They really enjoy it though.  For now it will stay the same, unless I find some sponges for it.