As a quintessentially whimsical and fun symbol of any celebration, balloons have
always had a special place in our hearts, no matter what the occasion. If you have
recently commemorated a store opening, birthday, anniversary, or any other joyous
event and you want your floating keepsakes to last as long as possible, we are here to
help. Though all helium balloons will eventually deflate and fall to the ground, you can
extend their life expectancy with a few simple tricks.
1. Pet Precautions: If you live with pets, store your balloons in a room that they cannot
access. When your puppy pals and feline friends are left to their own devices, they will
have a ball playing with the strings and potentially puncturing the balloon itself. This is
also a good idea for your furry friends’ safety too, since they could get caught in the
strings or the popped balloon.
2. Avoid Sunlight: Heat and sunlight act like kryptonite to balloons. By storing your
balloons in a cold or cool place, it can do wonders for making them last much longer
than they would otherwise. For foil balloons, try to maintain a consistent temperature so
that they won’t be shocked and damaged by the fluctuations.
3. Smart Storage: If you are planning back-to-back events and want your balloons to
last, you can take the time to cover them in clear, large plastic bags. Or, you can
purchase any number of our very large custom made Ballooney BagZ that have been
specially made with vent holes for keeping your balloons cool and comfortable. Either
way, just make sure your bag fits easily over the balloons but not so tight that the
balloons can pop. Once the bags are placed on the balloons, twist and close the bag
using a ribbon or just tie a knot yourself.
4. Hi-Float®: If you have ordered our latex balloons and need them to float for a long
period of time, we can do that! We would inject Hi-Float® into each latex balloon. Hi-
Float® is a non-toxic and very safe chemical that has a specific formulation to extend
the floating time of your balloons. Since this chemical compound needs time to dry in
order for it to work properly, you should not place it in a bag like you would with a foil
balloon, since that can slow down the process and in fact decrease its floating time
instead.
5. Heat Sensitivity: If you are throwing an all-day outdoor party or weekend event, you
will want to take extra precautions to preserve your balloons. Helium molecules expand
when exposed to heat, and this continual increase of heat and pressure from the
molecules moving about may lead to noisy and disruptive balloon popping. You may be
tempted to throw some water on them to cool them off, but that can actually cause them
to stick together and pop as well. Instead, stick with light colored balloons since they
won’t heat up as fast as their dark counterparts would. Also, bring them indoors at the
end of the day so they are not left out all night. As the temperature drops, the balloons
will shrink and when they become enlarged the next morning it may lead to popping.
One very important distinction to keep in mind when reading these tips is the difference
between latex and foil balloon floating times. A standard 11” helium filled latex balloon
will stay afloat for around 16-18 hours but will come down quite a bit quicker if left
outside in the heat. Foil balloons, on the other hand, may stay floating for weeks but will
have a violent reaction to a sudden temperature change (both hot and cold). If you
would like to learn more about preserving your balloons and enjoying them for as long
as possible, the staff at Balloonacy is here to help you. Contact us today to get all the
answers you are looking for!