To keep your balloons looking good for as long as possible please follow the steps below:
Keep balloons away from direct sunlight and warm places. Helium expands in warm temperatures so balloons can burst if left in front of windows, in conservatories, cars etc. Avoid very low temperatures too as they can affect the float time of the balloon, balloons prefer to be in comfortable room temperatures.
Keep the balloons away from open windows, doors and breezy spots as they can be blown against sharp objects and will burst.
Balloons look good enough to touch but please handle them with extreme care as they are delicate. It is best to keep little fingers away from the balloons as they are not built to be played with (at least until the party is over!).
Make sure balloons are not near any sharp objects as they will burst! Check there are no nails in walls or sharp corners/edges close to where you are displaying the balloon/balloons as it will puncture if they brush against them.
WHAT YOUR BALLOON DOESN'T LIKE!
It may seem like teaching your granny to suck eggs, but in that split second you open the box with a pair of scissors, or let your balloon bob along into a seemingly innocent household item, you'll be cursing yourself for not thinking it through.
Key things your balloon will not like:
- Coming into contact with sharp or hot objects
- Claws, beaks and any other playfully determined pet
- Being dragged through doorways
- Getting trapped in car boots or doors
- Big or little hands that forget to hold on tight
- Extreme weather
Please take care of your balloons for maximum enjoyment.
Although foil balloons look much tougher than latex balloons, they're not really. They can be easily punctured so keep them away from sharp objects - not just pins and scissors - but also sharp corners on furniture and car doors, and rough areas such as trees and bushes, brick and stone walls.
Static can also make balloons burst. If possible, don't place them near computers, TVs etc.
Temperature Changes
The helium in the balloons reacts to temperature so if you take them to a cooler place, the gas contracts making the balloons 'soft' and if to a hotter place the gas will expand. If they get too hot, the expanding gas will cause the seams to split, so don't put them in a sunny window on a hot day or near heat sources such as fires, light bulbs, candles and cookers or they will burst.
Soft balloons normally revert to their original state when taken back into the warm if the difference in temperature has not been too great or too prolonged.
Keeping the balloons in an even temperature will prolong their life.
Float Time
Foil balloons that have not been damaged or subject to big temperature changes, float and look at their best for 4 or 5 days, then gradually deflate over a couple of weeks. The bigger the balloon, the longer it will last (purely because it has more helium in it).
Using Balloons Outdoors
If you use your balloons outside, you have to accept they might not last very long. Not only is the temperature variable, but there's wind and rain to contend with. Just a few raindrops will make a balloon droop and the wind can whip the balloon against a wall or tree before you know it.
Foil balloons should NEVER be released outdoors; they are NOT biodegradable and they can short power lines. The ribbon is a particular hazard to animals.
Helium Gas
Foil balloons float because they are filled with helium gas. Helium is a harmless inert gas and does not affect the ozone layer.
Summary
For maximum enjoyment, keep your foil balloons:
- away from sharp or rough objects
- away from any source of heat
- away from static
- in an even temperature
- indoors
Then they should look good for 4 or 5 days and only gradually deflate after that.
