Chuck E. Cheese's Ball Pit: Clean Or Unsanitary?

Chuck E. Cheese is a chain of entertainment centres for children, offering arcade games, slides, tubes, pizza, and a giant mouse mascot. One of its former attractions was a ball pit, which was discontinued due to health and safety concerns. A former employee has revealed that the ball pit was rarely cleaned, and when it was, the balls were placed in netted bags in a pickup truck and taken through a car wash. Another former employee recounts cleaning the ball pit at the end of every month, finding toys, blankets, and mouldy food at the bottom of the pit.

A former employee claims that ball pits are rarely cleaned

A former employee of Chuck E. Cheese has claimed that the ball pits are rarely cleaned. In a Reddit post, the anonymous ex-employee described the ball pit as "disgusting and impossible to clean". They detailed the process of cleaning the ball pit, which involved removing all the balls, spraying them with disinfectant, and then piling them back in. This was done only once a month, and even then, it was a time-consuming and arduous task.

The former employee also stated that they were tasked with regular "preventative maintenance", which involved going into the ball pit with a bottle of OdoBan and paper towels to wipe down any visibly dirty balls. Despite their efforts, the ball pit remained in a less-than-sanitary state due to the behaviour of the young patrons. The employee recounted an incident where they witnessed a child urinate into the ball pit, and another instance where a child defecated in the tubes and smeared it everywhere.

The cleanliness of the ball pit was further compromised by the items that were often found at the bottom, including cheap toys, lost belongings, and mouldy slices of pizza. The sheer effort required to clean the ball pit meant that it was rarely given a thorough cleaning. The former employee's account provides a concerning glimpse into the hygiene standards, or lack thereof, at Chuck E. Cheese.

It is worth noting that this particular account is from a few decades ago, and it is unclear if the current ball pits at Chuck E. Cheese locations still exist or are maintained more frequently. In fact, one source indicates that ball pits may no longer be present at Chuck E. Cheese locations due to concerns over "sicknesses and diseases". Nonetheless, the former employee's claim highlights the potential health risks associated with ball pits and the importance of regular and thorough cleaning to ensure the safety of children.

When cleaned, balls are put in netted bags and taken through a car wash

Chuck E. Cheese used to have ball pits, but they have been discontinued due to sicknesses and diseases. While some former employees have claimed that the balls were rarely cleaned, others have stated that they were cleaned monthly. When cleaned, the balls were placed in netted bags and taken through a car wash.

The process of cleaning the ball pit involved removing all the balls and placing them on large tarps. They would then be sprayed with disinfectant before being piled back into the pit. This cleaning process was time-consuming and challenging, so employees also performed preventative maintenance by wiping down individual balls with disinfectant each night.

In addition to being difficult to clean, ball pits presented safety concerns. There were reports of children defecating, urinating, and vomiting in the ball pits, creating unsanitary conditions. These incidents highlight the challenges of maintaining hygiene and safety in ball pits, especially in busy entertainment venues like Chuck E. Cheese.

Due to the time and effort required to clean the ball pits effectively, as well as the health and safety risks associated with them, Chuck E. Cheese eventually discontinued their ball pits. This decision was likely influenced by the negative experiences and incidents that occurred in the ball pits, prioritizing the well-being of their young customers.

A former employee claims they did preventative maintenance by identifying and wiping dirty balls

A former employee of Chuck E. Cheese has revealed some interesting insights into the maintenance and cleaning of the ball pit. According to the employee, who worked at the restaurant in 1992, part of their job was to "clean the pit". This involved a monthly deep cleaning process where all the balls were removed, disinfected, and then put back. The process was time-consuming and tedious, and often they found various objects at the bottom of the pit, including toys, blankets, and leftover food.

To reduce the burden of deep cleaning, the employee mentions that they performed preventative maintenance. Every night after closing, they would be sent into the ball pit with a bottle of disinfectant and paper towels to identify and wipe down any dirty balls. This task was not enjoyable, but it helped keep the ball pit in a relatively cleaner state between the monthly deep cleanings.

The former employee also shared a terrifying incident that occurred in 1992 involving the ball pit. One day, while busing tables, they witnessed a child named Miles Penrose standing alone in the pit. Suddenly, several pale arms reached up from around him, and Miles was pulled beneath the surface of the balls. The employee was the only one who saw what happened, and when they reported it to the police, their story was not taken seriously. Unfortunately, Miles was never found, and the incident was chalked up as a standard disappearance.

The story highlights the importance of proper cleaning and maintenance of ball pits, as they can become breeding grounds for bacteria and, in this case, potentially pose a safety risk. While the former employee's story may seem like an extreme case, it does raise questions about the potential dangers that may be lurking in these types of play areas.

Overall, while Chuck E. Cheese may have implemented some cleaning practices for their ball pits, the former employee's account suggests that there is still room for improvement to ensure the health and safety of the children who play in them.

Chuck E. Cheese's ball pits have been removed due to sicknesses and diseases

Chuck E. Cheese's ball pits have been removed due to various sicknesses and diseases that can be spread in such environments. Ball pits are difficult to clean, and even with regular cleaning, they can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses.

Former employees of Chuck E. Cheese have shared their experiences and insights on the matter. One employee recounted that the balls were cleaned only once a month, and the process was tedious and time-consuming. The balls were removed from the pit, placed on large tarps, sprayed with disinfectant, and then returned to the pit. This process took hours, and even then, it was challenging to ensure that all the balls were thoroughly cleaned.

In addition to the monthly deep cleaning, the same employee also mentioned that they were tasked with daily "preventative maintenance." Every night after closing, they would enter the ball pit with a bottle of disinfectant and paper towels to wipe down any visibly dirty balls. Despite their efforts, the ball pit remained a challenging area to maintain due to the nature of the activity and the number of children playing in close quarters.

Another former employee shared a similar sentiment, stating that ball pits are "rarely cleaned" and that when they were cleaned, the balls were placed in netted bags and taken through a car wash. This method, while creative, may not effectively sanitise the balls, as car washes are not designed for this purpose.

The presence of food and drinks in the play area further contributes to the spread of germs. Children with faces "smeared with grease and cheese" would dive into the ball pit, and food items such as pizza were often left behind, becoming mouldy over time. This combination of factors—difficult cleaning processes, infrequent deep cleaning, and the presence of food and drinks—created an environment conducive to the spread of sickness and disease.

As a result, it is believed that all Chuck E. Cheese locations have stopped using ball pits in their arcades. This decision was likely made to prioritise the health and safety of their patrons, especially considering the challenges associated with maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation in ball pits.

A story about a 1992 incident at a ball pit mentions a child going missing

In 1992, a sixteen-year-old boy working as a "dish boy" at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in a nondescript mid-Atlantic suburb recounts a horrifying incident involving the ball pit. The boy, whose name is not mentioned, describes the ball pit as "disgusting and impossible to clean", with kids diving into it headfirst, covered in grease and cheese. He recalls an incident where he witnessed a child urinating into the ball pit.

The boy goes on to narrate the story of Miles Penrose, an eight-year-old child who went missing during a friend's birthday party at the Chuck E. Cheese. While the party was in full swing, with kids enjoying themselves, the narrator noticed a flash of movement and saw Miles standing alone in the ball pit, smiling. Suddenly, seven pale arms with prominent veins reached up from beneath the pit and grabbed Miles, who started screaming. The narrator was the only one who saw what happened as the other kids were too engrossed in their fun.

The boy was terrified and did not tell anyone what he saw. Miles' mother noticed her son's disappearance thirty minutes later and raised the alarm. The restaurant was shut down, and the police started questioning everyone present, including the narrator. He told the police about the seven hands pulling Miles down, but they dismissed his story, thinking he was a horror movie-obsessed teenager. The police and the manager/franchise owner then discovered a trap door built into the floor of the ball pit, which led to a crawl space. Despite their search, they found no sign of Miles.

The boy was haunted by Miles' disappearance and, twenty-eight years later, in 2019, he found himself at an art exhibit featuring a giant ball pit. He was traumatized by the sight and insisted on leaving. However, his friends persuaded him to stay, and he ended up witnessing a similar incident where a little girl, Sarah Wallace, was pulled under the balls by seven pale arms. The boy tried to rescue her but failed. Just like Miles, Sarah disappeared without a trace.

The narrator's obsession with ball pits and the disappearances led to a terrifying encounter in his own apartment, where he saw seven ghostly hands tracing a threatening message on his window, connecting it to the 1992 Chuck E. Cheese ball pit incident.

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