How long do inflated balloons last? Can they be preserved?
There’s no firm time table for the life of a balloon. All latex balloons will deflate. Despite their shrinking, they may hold their shape for days or even weeks. Typically, larger sculptures with more balloons can look good for a longer period of time since no single balloon is critical to the overall appearance of a sculpture. Rubber protectants, such as the sprays often used to protect rubber on car tires, will help keep a sculpture looking good longer, but they won’t keep them looking fresh indefinitely. The amount of time needed to use those protectants often makes them completely impractical for large displays. We just accept that what we are sculpting are memories. They can last indefinitely that way.
