Alright guys, today I’m tackling something pretty straightforward but honestly, kind of overlooked – taking care of that portable wooden flooring we use over our volleyball sleeper pads. You know the one, rolls out easy for practice sessions? Mine was looking pretty sad last weekend, covered in dust and some weird sticky patches near where my water bottle lives. Figured it was time for a proper clean-up session.

The Starting Point: Unrolling the Beast

First things first, grabbed the whole bundle from my gear corner – way heavier than I remembered! Hauled it outside onto my driveway (grass was still damp, bad idea). Unrolled the entire thing slowly, hearing that familiar crackling sound as it flattened out. Could see every dusty footprint glaring back at me under the sun. Not a pretty sight, folks.

My Simple Cleaning Mix

Didn’t wanna buy fancy cleaners. Went with basic stuff from my kitchen sink:

• A big squirt of dish soap (the green kind)
• Filled an old spray bottle halfway with warm water
• Dumped in maybe a cup or two of plain white vinegar (smell hits you hard!)
• Shook that bottle like crazy until it got all foamy

Getting Down to Scrub

Started at one end, spraying a small section at a time – didn’t wanna soak it completely. Grabbed a soft-bristle broom I use for the car interior. Started scrubbing gently in circles, seeing the grime lift off almost instantly. Those sticky spots? Had to get serious. Sprayed extra mix, left it to sit for two minutes (set a timer!), then attacked with the broom again. Took some elbow grease, but most of the gunk wiped away.

Noticed a tiny tear near the edge – uh oh. Got a thin strip of clear packing tape from the garage, patted the area dry with an old t-shirt, and slapped the tape over it smooth. Good enough for now, it ain’t structural damage!

The Patience Test: Drying Properly

This part dragged. Sun was baking down, but I flipped sections every hour anyway. Ran my hand over it – any damp spot meant waiting longer. Big lesson learned? Started way earlier than I thought I needed to. Nearly 3 hours later, the whole mat felt bone dry, no more stickiness anywhere.

Rolling It Back Up & Storage

Grabbed my wife to help with this – seriously, trying to roll it solo last time was comical. We rolled it tight and slow, keeping the edges straight. Stuffed it back in its long carry bag, zipped up tight. Hoisted it vertically in the gear corner this time, not flat. Way less dust gets at it upright. Done and dusted!

Overall, took half a Saturday but feels brand new now. That vinegar mix? Stank up the driveway but dang, it worked like a charm. Next time maybe less elbow grease if I clean it more often… we’ll see!