We recommend you do not do this for a number of reasons:
- There is a significant danger associated with cutting tennis balls, whether new or used. High quality tennis balls are very difficult to cut and when hand cut, serious injury may result. Some school districts do not allow “home made” equivalents in their classrooms due to this risk of personal injury. When tennis balls are hand cut, it is not possible to make accurate and even cuts which leads to the balls falling off. Since Hushh-ups are pre-cut, these issues are eliminated.
- There are issues of cleanliness and air quality safety to consider. Used tennis balls, even those of championship grade, have been used in outdoor activities and therefore, carry dirt, mould and outdoor contaminants into the classroom.
- The championship grade Hushh-ups are air inflated, meaning that when they precision cut the product, only air is emitted. Cheaper, dollar store balls are less expensive largely due to their inflation methods. Instead of inflating the balls using air, inflation is achieved through the use of pellets or liquid chemicals. The presence of pellet or liquid inflated balls, may result in odours and chemical and/or toxic residues in the classroom, which are difficult for some individuals to tolerate. Touching the inside of these types of balls has not proven to be safe.
- The life expectancy and durability of a used or lower-quality ball is significantly less than that of a new, championship grade Hushh-ups. Low-end tennis balls wear out due to the low quality felt and thin core. Customers who have switched from discount store balls to Hushh-ups have said that they last much longer and do not fall off chair legs.
Can I still stack chairs where Hushh-ups have been installed?
Yes. While you probably cannot include as many chairs on the stacks as before, there are two advantages to stacking with Hushh-ups. First, with Hushh-ups installed, it is much easier to move the stack of chairs as they will glide more easily along the floor, and second, you will save the floor from the damage and discolouration caused from moving non-protected chairs.
Will the Hushh-ups fall off the chairs when moved?
No. The precision cut is designed to ensure that units will remain on chair legs under normal conditions of use, including moving.
How do I clean my Hushh-ups?
Because Hushh-ups are made from felt, they can pick up dust, lint and hair. We recommend periodic cleaning using a damp cloth, vacuum or lint brush or large adhesive tape similar to tape used for packaging.
Won't students take the Hushh-ups off and play with them?
Hushh-ups asked their customers this same question. They acknowledged that depending on the age of the students, there was a novelty factor. The children asked a number of questions and expressed an interest in removing the Hushh-ups for inspection. We recommend that teachers take a few minutes before and after installation to explain to the children why they now have Hushh-ups and that they are simply a part of the classroom furniture and should not be removed. Customers have indicated that this approach has worked successfully.
Do Hushh-ups fit on different chairs and other furniture?
Yes. The cut is made to accommodate many different sizes of chair leg glides. In addition, customers use Hushh-ups on the legs of the students’ desks and other tables in the classroom. This further reduces noise from classroom furniture and also protects the floor.
