Balloons are a staple decoration for all kinds of events, and there’s more than one way to make a balloon. In fact, the idea of balloons is an old one, dating back to the early 1800s. Today, a consumer can choose between foil balloons and latex balloons, depending on preference or need. Those foil balloons can be made into all kinds of shapes, unlike latex balloons, such as heart shaped balloons or square ones. A heart shaped balloon with a custom print might be a fine idea for a Valentine’s Day gift, or a heart shaped balloon may be used for a wedding anniversary. Wholesale balloons can be ordered by any party supply store, and those may include both wholesale latex balloons as well as foil ones, like heart shaped balloons. Why might someone prefer latex balloons over foil ones, and what are some fine occasions to blow up balloons?
All About Balloons
The idea of balloons dates all the way back to 1824, when a certain professor Michael Faraday invented them by fusing together two rubber sheets and sealing the edges. The resulting airtight item could be filled with air, and the idea certainly persisted. By now, balloons can be ordered in the dozens for a fair price, and a person may get either foil or latex balloons, depending on their preference.
Latex balloons are friendly for the environment, since rubber is harvested from trees in the Amazon but latex can be harvested without killing a tree. In fact, a latex tree can provide material for some 40 years, making this material ecologically sustainable. These latex balloons may range from 10 to 30 centimeters in diameter when they are fully inflated, and 11-inch balloons may last from 12-20 hours when they are inflated with helium. If filled with regular air, they may last for a couple of weeks. Such balloons are small when they’re taken out of the package, but they can be quickly inflated to their distinctive pear shape when filled up. These balloons, until they are inflated, should be kept away from pets, babies and small children, since they might be a choking hazard.
Foil balloons are a bit different. They are nearly always inflated with helium, and so they always come with a string and a weight to keep them in place. Unlike latex balloons, foil balloons are made from two foil sheets fused together at the edges, and those sheets can be cut into all kinds of shapes. They can be heart shaped balloons, or squares or even numbers for a birthday. What is more, unlike solid-color latex balloons, these foil balloons will have custom designs printed on them before being inflated. They may have messages such as “get better soon” or “happy birthday,” or they might even have brand-name images and pictures on them. Most often, these foil balloons are purchased already fully inflated, so the buyer can see what their graphic design is. And most consumers won’t have access to a helium pump for them anyway.
When to Use Balloons
What kind of occasion calls for balloons? A birthday party is a fine example, and kids often like to have decorations around such as colorful balloons, streamers, paper plates, and more. For a party, these balloons can be inflated with helium and held on strings, and this might be a fine idea for an outdoor party. Inside, balloons can be inflated, or they might be taped onto the ceiling, walls, chairs, or other surfaces. That’s a good idea for balloons inflated with air. Air-filled balloons can also be scattered around the floor to form a sort of ball pit.
Balloons are also used for high school proms, and in this case they’re purchased wholesale. Hundreds or even thousands of them may be used (and filled with air), and it’s great fun for dancers when the balloons are release from a ceiling-mounted cage. Balloons are also a fine idea for a girl’s Sweet 16 birthday party in particular, and balloons are a fitting idea for a bridal party or a baby shower, too. More casual weddings, such as outdoor ones, might involve balloons, which will probably coordinate their colors with the wedding’s overall color scheme.
