How to Get Rid of Bugs on a Trampoline Naturally (Keep Them Off!)

So, you have a bunch of bugs on your trampoline.

And you’re sick of seeing them each time you (or your kids) want to jump.

Trampolines provide a suitable environment for many common garden pests because they provide plenty of places for insects to hide, feed, and breed.

Spiders, moths, whiteflies, caterpillars, ants, and other bugs will gladly use the frame, springs, and mat for your trampoline to take shelter.

In this guide, we’ll cover the following topics:

• Why your trampoline has pests all over it
• The most common areas bugs infest on a trampoline
• Protecting the frame, mat, springs, and the legs of your jumper
• Natural ways to get rid of spiders, moths, and other pests
• How to keep bugs away from your trampoline
• And more 

As always, you can always ask questions by posting a comment!

Feel free to bookmark this page for easy reference in the future. 

Sound good? Let’s get started and “jump” into some good old DIY pest control.

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Why does my trampoline have bugs?

Your trampoline is outside all day and probably doesn’t move much.

Being a large, stationary object with plenty of cracks and crevices for bugs to hide, it should be no surprise that it collects spiders, moths, springtails, beetles, ants, and other pests over time.

There are many different places for pests to hide on the trampoline legs, springs, and underside. This allows them to establish a nesting area, spin webs, or breed and do whatever bugs do.

But I use my trampoline daily!

Even if you use your trampoline nonstop, bugs will still collect on the bottom where vibrations and movements are minimal.

They probably won’t establish a hiding spot right under the bouncy material, but will near the legs and bottom beam supports where it doesn’t move as much.

And if you don’t use it often, it makes it even easier for them to build their home on your trampoline. 

How to get rid of bugs on your trampoline

Here are some tips to keep your bouncer free of pests.

Although being a large outdoor stationary object is hard to prevent pests 100% of the time, you can still reduce the number of pests that inhabit it by following some best practices.

Don’t worry. They’re easy and won’t take up too much of your time.

In the end, it’ll be worth it because you’ll make your trampoline last longer and you don’t have to deal with spider webs, sticky eggs from moths, or dirty bug poop the next time you or your kids want to jump and have a good one.

Wash it

Keeping your trampoline clean is one of the best ways to keep it free from pest infestations, debris, eggs, foliage, and other buildups.

Over time, it’ll slowly harbor spider webs, moth poop, sticky residues, and leaf clutter. Doing regular maintenance to keep it clean will help get rid of the debris and dislodge the crud that’s been collecting on the underside.

To clean it, you don’t need any professional sprays or tools. Trampolines are hardy and made from durable materials, so they can withstand outdoor elements like sunlight and rain.

There are four main components to a trampoline:

• Safety pads
• Tubing
• Springs
• Jumping mat

The frame of it that contains the tubing is usually made from steel, so it’s hardy by default. The actual mat is made from woven fibers that vary in materials like nylon and polypropylene.

So they can handle some pretty harsh chemicals. But we won’t be needing any of that. We’re going to stick with the basics and clean it up- DIY style.

All you need are the following:

• A soft sponge
• A cleaning rod to reach hard to reach areas
• Bucket of water
• A few tablespoons of dish soap
• Garden hose with a pressure nozzle

Make a dish soap solution by mixing water and dish soap in the bucket.

The ratio doesn’t matter, but it should be around 1 part dish soap to 8 parts water. The soap should form suds at the water surface when you mix it.

Get your hose and turn it on full blast.

Spray the bottom of the trampoline to clear out dirt, debris, leaves, bugs, webs, eggs, shells, poop, and dirt. This will clean out most of it- even the grime that’s stuck on the beams.

You’ll be surprised.

Grab your sponge and start scrubbing the underside.

This will remove anything that’s still stuck on the supports, springs, or legs of your trampoline. The brush should be gently used, but don’t be afraid to go all out if you need to.

Scrub key areas that usually get dirty- such as the frame, springs, and mat itself. The bottom of the mat is just as dirty as the surface.

Now that it’s completely clean, consider applying a coat of wax to protect it from damage in the future. There are many different wax coatings you can buy, just make sure the wax is made for the finish of your trampoline.

This will prevent damage from the elements (or at least help with preventing damage) plus make it easier to clean in the future.

Spider eggs and moth eggs will slide right off when there’s a layer of wax over the frame and support.

Is it OK to put water on a trampoline?

Yes, you can use water on a trampoline mat and frame without damage if it has a weather proof finish.

If not, it needs to be sealed first or else the parts may rust. So assess with your manufacture and find out.

For most trampolines, using water to clean it should be OK.

Dish soap, essential oils, and other mild surface cleaners may require a wax coating to protect it from damage.

Time it

Wash after the springtime.

The majority of people won’t be using their trampoline in the harsh cold during the winter season, and this is also when a lot of bugs will become killed from the winter.

So all that’s left behind are the remnants of their nests, empty eggs, and bug poop.

When the spring rolls around and temperatures pick up again, bugs will come out and start breeding to repeat the cycle all over again.

During this time, you’ll find a lot of pest activity until summer. This is when most pest damage takes place and you’ll find a lot of debris under the trampoline.

After the summer, fall is when the bugs start going into dormancy again or stop being so darned active. So it’s the perfect time to clean up all that debris they left behind.

They may also have laid eggs that overwinter throughout the cold and hatch in the spring.

So you can remove those as well. Plus, the cool autumn breeze makes it nicer to clean your trampoline rather than under the hot blazing sun.

Use a trampoline net or cover

A cover is a necessity for those that live in an area full of pests. If these bugs are rampant, you’ll want to pick one up to help reduce the number of bugs you have to deal with.

No trampoline cover will prevent 100% of bug problems, but you can greatly reduce the population and headache you have to deal with later on. Get a cover that fits snugly around the trampoline and is the right size.

The cover will help keep bugs out and protect them from sun, rain, snow, or dust when used correctly. Most covers range from 8 feet to 15 feet to fit most standard trampoline sizes.

This is necessary if you don’t use your bouncer often. Cover it to protect your investment or else you’re just letting it wear and tear for no reason.

Plus, it’ll help keep bugs off your trampoline without you doing anything.

Sure, it may be annoying to constantly remove and put back on, but then again, it’s a tradeoff so you don’t have a ton of spiders to deal with when you want to use it. That’s worth the effort, right? 

Store it correctly

Putting your trampoline away in the right place will help prevent damage to it during extended periods when you don’t use it.

This will also prevent wear and tear that’s highly unnecessary, especially during the wintertime or periods of rain. Cold weather, sunlight, and rain can wear out a jumper before you know it.

Storing it and stowing it away will also help prevent bugs from infesting it and establishing nests or depositing eggs.

Properly putting your trampoline away and using a cover are two different things you can do, but they go hand in hand.

When you plan to use your trampoline, but not frequently, cover it but keep it in place. Choose a location out of the sun, rain, and snow if possible.

For example, you can move it under an awning in your garden.

If you don’t plan to use it for an extended period, take it apart and store it somewhere secure that bugs can’t ‘get to.

Storing means taking it apart. Disassemble it completely. Put the parts on a platform and elevate.

Keep the trampoline pest-free by doing the following best practices:

• Put your trampoline parts together in the same place so you don’t lose them alter
• Keep them elevated on a pallet or platform
• Use a tarp that covers all the parts entirely
• Wrap the mat neatly into a package and store it in a garbage bag or tarpaulin
• Keep it out of the rain or snow to prevent rusting
• Keep the springs lubricated

This will help keep bugs off your trampoline when you don’t use it.

As you disassemble it, they won’t have anything to infest, deposit eggs, or build nests.

Keep the parts safe and secure. You can also use pieces of duct tape and label them to mark the parts so you don’t lose them.

You can also use them to easily remember how to assemble it again when you decide to bring it out. 

How do you get rid of spiders on a trampoline?

Spiders on a trampoline are common. It’s a perfect place to spin a web between all the beams and springs on the support frame.

It’s also protected from the elements so they feel safe hiding under the mat.

Plenty of insects crawl up the legs or flying insects buzz by underneath, so they have a lot of space to catch bugs to eat. It’s no surprise that spiders will gravitate to a trampoline to spin their webs.

Spiders can be controlled in a variety of DIY home remedies.

Here are some of the most effective:

• Spray peppermint oil (dilute with water) around the frame and legs of your trampoline to repel them
• Clean your trampoline often
• Remove webs as soon as you see them
• Keep your trampoline away from artificial lighting at night (light attracts flies, which attracts spiders)
• Prune and trim nearby plants or remove them
• Remove stagnant water
• Use a vacuum to suck up webs
• Use sticky boards or sticky traps on the legs of your trampoline
• Use a commercial spider spray if necessary, but try to get an organic or natural one
• Hire a professional pest control company to help

Remember that some spiders are venomous (such as recluses, barn spiders, black widows), so you should be careful before doing anything on your own. Wear PPE.

Never attempt any spider control on your trampoline if you don’t know what you’re doing. Consult a professional exterminator for assistance.

 Get rid of spider eggs on trampoline net

Spider eggs found all over your trampoline net is common. They like to lay eggs on surfaces that “stick” to webbings and egg sacs easily, so it’s no surprise.

If you find your net covered in spider eggs, then you should take some measures to bring down the number of eggs:

• Do regular clearings of your entire trampoline
• Spray some essential oils around the net, frame, and legs
• Cover it with a trampoline cover that’s the proper fit (and put it on correctly)
• Place it over concrete, not grass
• Use sticky boards to catch spiders
• Keep plants in your garden pruned or remove them around your garden

Yes, a lot of the same old advice is repeated. But that’s because it works. Basic cleanliness will help get rid of spider eggs in the future.

How do you get rid of moth eggs on a trampoline?

Moth eggs on your trampoline are extremely common and nothing to be worried about.

The netting of the trampoline provides a perfect environment for moths to deposit their eggs and let them overwinter until spring.

If you come across these eggs, they look like tiny white ovals that are extremely sticky. Some moth eggs are yellow, tan, orange, or silver, depending on the species.

To clean them off and prevent future moths from laying eggs, here’s what to do:

First, clean off all the eggs you come across with a mixture of soap and water. Dish detergent does well to clean them off.

You can scrub them with a toothbrush for stubborn eggs or any stains leftover from peeling them off. For hard to reach areas, use a BBQ cleaner or pipe cleaner.

The eggs should come off relatively easily once sprayed with dish soap. 

Second, spray some essential oils. These will help repel moths, whiteflies, thrips, spiders, caterpillars, worms, and others.

Some of the best essential oils for this purpose are:

• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Citrus
• Neem
• Eucalyptus

These oils need to be diluted in water before they can be sprayed.

Some people or pets may be sensitive to the oils also, so be sure to read all warnings before use. There are plenty of tutorials you can read online that cover the exact dilution requirements.

Get an organic or natural, pure essential oil when possible. Typically, you’ll mix just a few drops of oil with a quart of water.

But then again, this depends on which oil you have and how concentrated it is.

Find a resource to help you gauge, such as videos like this:

Next, get some sticky tape. Apply it around areas with high pest activity or where you see a lot of eggs.

The sticky tape will bait and kill any moths that fly in the area, which should help bring down the overall number of eggs laid in the trampoline netting.

Replace the sticky tape as necessary.

If you have a lot of space under the trampoline, you can also hang sticky traps and use them in tandem with tape for a double whammy against pests.

Lastly, keep your trampoline netting clean by regularly doing maintenance.

This will help repel any pests from depositing eggs in the future. A combination of repellent, sticky traps, followed by general overall cleanliness does wonders to keep moths and spiders from laying eggs on the netting.

Use yellow lights or reduce lighting

Nighttime insects that exhibit phototaxis will come out and fly towards artificial light sources at night.

If your trampoline is next to one, you can get a ton of insects depositing eggs all over the frame, mat, and netting.

The netting provides a perfect environment for moths, whiteflies, and butterflies to lay eggs because it’s structurally sound, safe, and sheltered.

You can reduce the number of eggs by making sure that your trampoline isn’t near a light source:

• Turn off outdoor lights at night
• Dim indoor lights or use blinds to block light bleed
• Switch to yellow lights or sodium vapor lights which bugs aren’t attracted to

Remove plants or prune them

A messy yard will bait in spiders and moths like no other.

The more insects you have, the more problems you’ll get.

Spiders thrive in areas with lots of pest activity because they feed on ones that get caught in their webs.

Bugs like yards that are messy, unkempt, and full of foliages to hide in. Keep it clean. This will help bring down the number of bugs coming into your garden.

Here are some general tips to follow:

• Prune plants regularly
• Get rid of any unnecessary foliage
• Keep your lawn mowed
• Don’t let crops grow over-ripened
• Get rid of plant litter
• Remove grass clippings
• Clean up leaf litter
• Don’t store bird seed, animal feed, or pet food outside in easily accessible places

These tips should help you keep your yard neat, tidy, and organized, which should be good for keeping it clear of bugs. 

Switch to a pest-free substrate

If you’re using organic soil or garden soil, they could be attracting a bunch of bugs to your yard.

Soils that are rich in nutrients provide plenty of food for them to eat and nest in. If you’re not growing anything, consider removing the soil and replacing it.

You can use rocks, stone, or pebbles instead to line your garden bed. They serve as a bridge for bugs and can help reduce their population.

You can also just put it around the trampoline and make a barrier around it by using brick or cedar- both of which are excellent at keeping bugs away from your jumper.

Don’t put it over grass

This one’s obvious, but if you put the trampoline over tall, weedy grasses, this can bring in a TON of bugs.

Dense grass provides places to eat, breed, and lay eggs for a variety of garden insects like bean beetles, flea beetles, and sow bugs.

Keep your lawn mowed and grass trimmed. Remove any leaf litter or plant matter right away.

Or just relocate the entire trampoline over concrete.

Remove standing water

Standing water should be drained and the reason behind the waterlog corrected.

Never allow water to just sit there because this provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes, crane flies, and garden beetles.

Clean and keep water runways clear- and keep soil well-draining. Keep water features like fountains, ponds, birdbaths, pools, and other things well maintained and clean.

How do I keep bugs off my trampoline?

Keeping your trampoline pest-free is easy once you get into a routine.

There are many different home remedies you can do as outlined by this guide:

• Clean your trampoline with dish soap and water when it’s dirty
• Hang up sticky traps or apply sticky tape
• Consider using a bug zapper
• Move your trampoline away from light sources or switch to sodium vapor lighting
• Spray peppermint or neem oil in areas with high pest activity
• Prune plants or remove them around the trampoline
• Use a pest repelling substrate in your garden
• Remove standing water
• Use a trampoline cover when you don’t use it for extended periods
• Disassemble your trampoline when you don’t need it and store the parts well

There’s no magic to it. It’s just like keeping out any other pest from inhabiting your garden.

Just do the basics and you’ll be good for most types of pests. All it takes is some hard work!

Trampoline covers

Using a cover will be the best investment you can make to protect your equipment.

No need for fancy covers- even a tarp will help. You know those basic cheapo blue ones?

For easy reference, here are some of the basic covers that should protect your bouncer:

• Upper Bounce Weather Resistant Cover (Amazon)
• Exacme Rain Snow Sun Trampoline Cover (Amazon)
• Grizzly Tarps (16 x 20) (Amazon)

Feel free to pick one up to help prevent pest problems in the future. It’s the easy solution to prevent eggs, wear and tear, and weathering. A must-have essential for any trampoline.

Here are some other guides for the pests that are commonly found on trampolines that you can check out for detailed pest control:

• Spiders
• Whiteflies
• Snails
• Caterpillars
• Ants
• Moths
• Wasps

Further reading

Here are some other references you may find helpful for trampoline care:

• SkyBound Trampoline Care Guide – SkyBound
• Springfree Trampoline Care
• Trampolines – Reddit

Did you get rid of the bugs on your trampoline?

You should have a solid foundation of knowledge to bounce on (sorry) to get rid of bugs on your trampoline and keep pests off.

It’s not hard by doing just the basics and keeping it clean.

If you have any specific situations, post a comment and I’ll get back to you. Or if you found this guide helpful, please let me know as well =]!

Consider telling a fellow trampo owner who may find it useful. 

Thanks for reading.