Sold as toys, splat balls are popular with children and are also used as stress balls by adults. Balls come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are filled with liquid so, if you throw them at a wall or window, they make a satisfying splat. Their content and a sticky coating then allows them to reshape and "walk" down the surface. Over time, this coating will pick up dust, dirt and debris and become less effective. Balls may also stop re-shaping. If your splat ball no longer sticks or pops back to its original shape, it is time to clean it.

  • Sold as toys, splat balls are popular with children and are also used as stress balls by adults.
  • Over time, this coating will pick up dust, dirt and debris and become less effective.

Fill a sink or bowl with warm water. Add a little washing-up liquid or liquid hand soap. Mix it around until you see some bubbles.

Hold the splat ball in one hand over the water. Dip the fingers of your other hand into the water and gently rub all over the surface of the ball to clean it.

Put the splat ball on a clean surface and let it air-dry. Once it is fully dry, check if it feels sticky again. If it doesn't, the coating is still dirty, and you'll need to clean it again.

  • Fill a sink or bowl with warm water.
  • Put the splat ball on a clean surface and let it air-dry.

TIP

Wet splat balls need to dry naturally. Don't use cloths to dry them as fibres and particles may stick to them and clog up the sticky surface again.

WARNING

Don't use very hot water to clean your splat ball as this could remove the sticky surface completely.

Throw away splat balls that have tears or leaks in them. Although some balls are filled with filtered water, others contain chemicals, which may cause skin and eye irritations or damage. Don't give splat balls that contain chemicals to young children and make sure to buy age-appropriate products.

Splat balls are meant for indoor use. If you throw them against outside walls, interior walls with rough coatings or anything with a sharp edge, they may burst.