Sandboxes

M.,
I have a 12x12 foot sandbox in my preschool playground. It has S hooks around it and we attach a blue tarp every night to cover it. We also put large rocks on it to keep the wind from blowing in it. We have had it since Oct. and it has been wonderful. The children love to help cover it also. They can be so creative and it is also calming for an overactive child.

I would absolutely get new sand. If the sandbox is an actual wooden box, you can make a cover for it. I made ours by using indoor/outdoor upholstery fabric several inches bigger than the dimensions of the sandbox, cutting out two of the corners, hemming all around, and putting in two grommits at each corner. (It also helps to reinforce at stress points.) We also put two eye-bolts at the bottom corners of the front of the sandbox, stapled the cover to the back of the sandbox, and we use bungee cords that are loops through a plastic ball to fasten the cover through the grommits and the eye-bolt. I saw something similar on a sandbox cover website. Our four-year-old can manage the cover by herself, and our sand has stayed very clean. Plus it helps to corral the sandbox toys. Good luck.

Be careful of cats pooping in the sand.

Hi M.! I would absolutely get new sand! You never know if the neighborhood cats are using it for a toxic toilet.
We had some wild kitties come to our house and I kept finding poop in our sandbox. My hubby and I couldn't stand the thought of our little boy and girl putting that stuff in their mouths so we bought a huge load of washed sand. We now cover it with a tarp and let it air out after rain and such.
I hope you enjoy your new sandbox!

I would totaly dump the sand and sanitize the box then get new fresh sand. It may look clean, but the previous owners may have cleaned out any cat poo and there could be minute residue and you would never know the difference. You have no idea what's really in there. But when it's your own sand you know.

I would look at Menards or possibly Toys R' Us for a new cover and you can get new sand there too! This is gross but even with a cover animals can get in there and do their thing. I had one of those little lady bug ones with a cover and noticed worms in there probably from an animal. Needless to say we didn't use it anymore. Hopefully just changing the sand and finding a tight cover will work for you :)

M.,
I advise getting new sand. It's cheap. You will know it is clean and the old sand can just be thrown out or used in a planter. As far as a cover you could probably find one on freecycle. Or you could do what was suggested on this old house and that is to put a basketball or other large plastic ball in the center of the sandbox place a tarp over it and use velcro to secure the tarp to the sides and corners of the sandbox. Water or snow will drain right off. They even make colored sand for sandboxes but I don't know where to tell you to find that.
Debbie