| In warm weather, latex balloons will typically only | | | | is used to make balloons float longer, it is not |
| last outside for a day. As you know, sun, wind | | | | generally meant for outside use. If you want your |
| and heat will biodegrade the latex. | | | | balloons to float longer outside, you should plan on |
| With that said, however, there are tricks you | | | | doing daily touch-up work to your balloon |
| can do to raise your odds of getting them to last | | | | arrangements. Be sure to include this in your |
| more than a day outside.1) Use only high quality | | | | budget.10) Balloons simply will not last outdoors |
| balloons like Qualatex. I've also heard that some | | | | overnight. As the cold air shrinks the balloons and |
| people have used Bellatex and Tilly balloons with | | | | then they expand in the sun the next day, they |
| some success. Quality makes a huge difference.2) | | | | will pop like crazy. This can be avoided by simply |
| Avoid using latex balloons whenever possible. | | | | bringing all balloons indoors in the evening.11) Use |
| After a few days outside, we have seen them | | | | white balloons as much as possible. They reflect |
| completely disintegrate when touched.3) Qualatex' | | | | the sun and fade less.12) Avoid darker balloons. |
| Polyurethane Duo balloons are designed for | | | | They will absorb heat and pop faster. If you need |
| outdoor use. They will last longer and look better | | | | darker colors in your balloon decor, use ribbons to |
| for extended outdoor use than any latex or foil | | | | accent in a darker color.13) Keep in mind that |
| balloon. They are a bit more pricey but can really | | | | extreme heat speeds up the balloon leakage |
| take away the headache of shrinking and | | | | process. So, in temperatures close to 100 |
| disintegrating balloons. For larger Duo balloons like | | | | degrees, the helium will escape much faster, |
| 18", it may be cost effective to rent them. The | | | | drastically reducing float time. If you can find a |
| Duo balloons can also be used to leverage small | | | | way to shade balloons, it can slow the process, |
| latex balloons. Underinflate your smaller latex | | | | somewhat.14) Do not use water to cool down |
| balloons and use the lift power of the big balloon | | | | balloons. As the water dries on the latex, it |
| to raise them.4) Always underinflate to allow | | | | becomes slightly sticky. Balloons can stick |
| balloons to expand when absorbing heat. We've | | | | together causing them to pop as balloons they |
| found the method that works best is to | | | | expand in the heat.15) Mylar foil balloons last |
| over-inflate the balloon and then release air until | | | | longer outdoors than latex. Just allow for normal |
| the balloon is slightly underinflated. This helps the | | | | expansion and shrinkage. The downside is that in |
| balloon to breathe and expand more easily, and it | | | | the hot sun the foil will not hold its color or sheen. |
| is not as brittle. Underinflating does little good | | | | There will be a noticable difference by the end of |
| unless you overinflate first.5) Use balloons two | | | | the day.16) Whenever possible, use some kind of |
| sizes larger than you would normally use.6) | | | | framework to give your balloon decor structure |
| Inflating balloons with the same temperature air | | | | that can withstand wind and heat. This can also be |
| as they will encounter outdoors can actually help | | | | helpful for helium-filled balloons that will lose float |
| to retain their shape better.7) Helium does not | | | | time in the heat.17) We've found that if balloons |
| work well outdoors in the heat. If you need to | | | | are going to pop in the heat and sun, the will |
| use helium-filled latex, try to use large balloons like | | | | usually do so within the first hour. So, you'll have a |
| 24" and inflate to only around 16". Over- inflate | | | | pretty good indication of whether it will work if |
| with air first, release the air and then re-inflate | | | | you set up early.While it can be difficult to do |
| with helium. You don't want to waste your helium | | | | balloon decor outdoors in the heat, it is certainly |
| when you pre-inflate.8) After your balloons are | | | | not impossible. Just use the above tips to greatly |
| inflated, consider applying a product called "Balloon | | | | improve your odds.Passionate about advertising |
| Shine." It can protect your latex balloons from the | | | | balloons, Kathryn Parisse is editor of The Balloon |
| sun's UV rays. It's best to experiment with this | | | | Newsletter. |
| days before to see if it will work.9) While Hi-Float | | | | |