Heat and sunlight kill pool floats, not winter

The best way to store inflatable pool floats for winter is to clean them, dry them completely, deflate them, and keep them in a cool, dark, temperature-stable spot — folded loose, not rolled tight.

Most cracking and leak problems start long before winter. It’s the summer sun and hot garage that break down the PVC, not the cold storage months. UV rays cause micro-fissures, and high heat makes the material brittle over time. So the biggest thing you can do is keep them out of sunlight and away from any heat source when storing.

The actual winter routine is simple: wash with mild soap, rinse, dry every surface — inside and out. Moisture trapped inside is what causes mildew and ice damage when temps drop. Once bone dry, deflate most of the way but leave a little air so the walls don’t stick together. Then fold loosely, don’t roll tightly, and toss them in a plastic bin or large cotton bag. A dusting of talc powder on the seams helps prevent sticking too.