How to Get Dirt Out of a Sandbox
A sandbox is a rite of passage for some kids. It is a soft, safe place for kids to play and exercise their imagination and fine motor skills. When dirt accumulates in the sandbox, there are a number of ways to remove it.
You need
- Rake
- Shovel
- Garbage can
- Fresh sand
- Vacuum cleaner
- Quarter cup all-purpose disinfectant
- One gallon hot water
- Bucket
- Mop or sponge
- Use a rake and carefully comb through the sand, looking for large clumps of dirt. Use the shovel to remove the dirt. Some sand will come with it, which is unavoidable. Areas where the dirt has become dispersed into the sand should be removed as well.
- Put the dirt in a garbage bag to dispose of or use elsewhere in the yard. As long as the dirt isn't too sandy, it can be useful in the garden. Recycle sandy soil by using it with cacti plants. Cacti thrive in sand. Refill the sandbox with fresh sand if the dirt infestation wasn’t too bad.
- Remove all the sand if there is a lot of dirt. After most of the sand has been removed, use a vacuum and remove the rest.
- Combine the disinfectant with the warm water in a bucket. Mop or sponge down the inside of the sandbox. Let it dry overnight without a cover.
- Refill with fresh sand to the desired level. For a change of pace, use colored sand. Local garden shops usually have blue or bright white sand at the very beginning of the planting season. Buy early because it sells quickly, especially in rural areas.