Summer is the perfect time for enjoying outdoor activities, and what’s more fun than splashing around on a water slide? If you want to create your own backyard oasis and save money in the process, a homemade water slide might be just the thing. Here are three ways to make a DIY water slide that will provide hours of entertainment and keep your kids (and grown-ups) cool in the hot summer sun.

1. Plastic Sheeting Water Slide

The simplest of all homemade water slides is the plastic sheeting water slide. This type of slide is perfect for when you need something quick and easy, requiring minimal setup time. You’ll need:

– A large piece of heavy-duty plastic sheeting, at least 10 feet long

– A garden hose

– Sturdy stakes or weights to hold the plastic sheeting in place

– Dish soap or other mild, slippery soap (optional)

To start, roll out your plastic sheeting on a slightly sloped area of your yard. Secure it in place with the stakes or weights at the corners, so it stays put when you slide on it. Attach the garden hose and run water across the surface to make it slippery. If you want an even more slippery surface, squirt some dish soap onto the plastic and spread it evenly with your hands or a sponge.

2. Inflatable Pool & Tarp Water Slide

Upgrade your homemade water slide game by adding an inflatable pool at the end! This version offers more splashin’ fun than a standard tarp slide alone. You’ll need:

– A large tarp or heavy-duty plastic sheeting, at least 15 feet long

– An inflatable pool

– A garden hose

– Sturdy stakes or weights to hold the tarp in place

– Dish soap (optional)

Set up an inflatable pool at the end of your slightly sloped yard area where you want the slide. Spread the tarp or plastic sheeting out away from the pool, making sure it lays flat. Secure it with stakes or weights. Run the garden hose along the length of the tarp, being sure to wet both the tarp and inside of the pool. Use mild soap if needed for extra slipperiness. Now, when you slide down your tarp water slide, you’ll end up in a cool pool of water!

3. PVC Pipe & Canvas Water Slide

If you’re up for a more significant DIY project, you can build this PVC pipe and canvas water slide with just a few supplies and some elbow grease! You’ll need:

– Two parallel lengths of PVC pipe, about 10 feet long each

– A large piece of durable canvas, at least 10 feet in length

– A garden hose

– A saw (to cut PVC pipes)

– PVC connectors and fittings

– Dish soap or other mild soap (optional)

Begin by cutting your PVC pipes into sections: two longer ones to run parallel on either side of your slide, and shorter segments to create supporting crossbars. Assemble the structure using PVC connectors and fittings to secure the pipes together. Lay your canvas across the PVC frame, attaching it securely if possible.

Place your homemade frame on a slight slope in your yard, ensuring that it is stable. Attach a garden hose to one end of the PVC structure and run water down the canvas for slipperiness, adding soap if desired. This more permanent type of homemade water slide will require more setup time but offers a sturdy and fun sliding experience!

Whichever method you choose for creating a homemade water slide, remember always to practice safety precautions while enjoying your new backyard attraction. Now get ready for some wet and wild summer fun!