Balloon FAQs
On this page you will find information on:
• General balloon information
• Balloon safety
• Inflation and float times
• Storage and disposal
• Balloon releases
Please visit our general FAQs for any questions relating to order processing, postage and delivery, returns and exchanges etc.
If you have a question that is not answered in our FAQs or within our Terms & Conditions, please contact our friendly customer service team at hello@poppiesforgrace.com.
General information
What are your balloons made from?
Our latex balloons are made from the highest quality 100% latex. Our foil balloons are made from mylar.
Balloons are fragile. We use the highest quality latex balloon available, however please use great care when inflating. If you are concerned about poppage please order extra balloons for your event. We do not offer refunds on balloons.
How will my balloons arrive?
Your balloons will be shipped to you flat for you to inflate yourself.
If you are local to our store in Hawthorn, you can choose to pick up or organise delivery for your inflated balloons.
Please visit our general FAQs for more information about click and collect.
Balloon safety
Safety warning
Balloons are not toys. Children can choke or suffocate on non-inflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision is required. Keep non-inflated balloons away from children and discard broken balloons immediately.
Inflation and float times
How long will my balloons last with helium?
A lot of factors go into how long your helium balloons will float for.
We strongly suggest inflating balloons with helium as close to your event as possible.
Helium is sensitive to temperature so we suggest keeping your balloons away from extreme heat & extreme cold as this can affect float times.
Latex balloon float time will vary between 7 to 20 hours depending on the size of the balloon. Our latex balloons are made from natural rubber so over time the helium escapes, the balloons will become smaller and start to lose their ability to float.
Foil balloons will float for 2+ days depending on the size of the balloon.
We recommend foil balloons for next day events and latex balloons for same day events.
What are the float times for each size of balloon?
The float times listed below are conservative estimates and we do not take responsibility for helium float times.
| Balloon type | Size | Estimated float time |
| Mini latex | 5"/12cm | n/a |
| Standard latex | 11"/30cm | 7 - 10 hours |
| Medium latex | 16"/40cm | 10 - 12 hours |
| Large latex | 23"/60cm | 12 - 15 hours |
| Jumbo latex | 36"/90cm | 15 - 20 hours |
| Mini latex, confetti | 5"/12cm | n/a |
| Standard latex, confetti | 11"/30cm | 7 - 10 hours |
| Medium latex, confetti | 16"/40cm | 10 - 12 hours |
| Large latex, confetti | 23"/60cm | 12 - 15 hours |
| Jumbo latex, confetti | 36"/90cm | 15 - 20 hours |
| Foil shape | various | 2+ days |
| Foil number | 34"/86cm | 2+ days |
| Orb | 16"/40cm | 2+ days |
Where can I get my balloons inflated?
We suggest contacting your local balloon or party shop to check but most stores will fill balloons bought from elsewhere. If you are local to our Hawthorn store, we can inflate them for you.
Why won’t my helium balloons float?
The main reason balloons won’t float is because not enough helium has been used. Check our float time table above to see how long your balloon will float with helium.
Another reason your balloon may be struggling to float is too much weight has been added in the way of fun tassels and decorations, thick ribbon etc. Standard balloons won’t float with any decorations added and you should only add light weight options to larger balloons.
Extreme temperatures can affect float times also. Do not keep your balloons in front of heaters or air conditioners.
Can I put helium in a mini balloon?
Nope! Sorry to say that mini balloons were not designed to be filled with helium. Mini balloons are to be filled with air only.
Helium is expensive! Are there any other options?
Helium can be pricey - but don’t you worry! It is not the only option for making your party look magical. You can try hanging balloons from the ceiling using glue dots or instead go for one our air filled balloon garlands that do not require helium.
Why won’t the confetti stick to the inside of my confetti balloon?
Confetti will not stick to the sides of your balloon without static and unfortunately helium does not create static. We suggest that you pop in some air first (about a basketball worth for a jumbo balloon, a tennis ball for a standard balloon) then inflate with helium.
To create static rub the inflated balloon with something wooly whilst rolling the balloon for the confetti to stick. This process may need to be repeated during your event. Bear in mind we cannot guarantee the confetti will stick when inflating with helium.
Please note that confetti in balloons will affect the float time when filled with helium. Check our float time table above for more details.
When filling your confetti balloons with air we recommend blowing them up with a balloon pump instead if your mouth. This will avoid moisture going into the balloon. It also has the potential to be a choking hazard so we definitely do not recommend.
Can foil balloons be filled with air or helium?
Some foil balloons can only be filled with air – you can find these details on the individual product page and/or packaging.
To fill a foil balloon with air insert a straw and blow!
Can I reuse my foil balloons?
It doesn’t always work but you can try carefully inserting a straw into the balloon, past the self-sealing valve, and gently push the air out. Flatten the balloon and fold it neatly and store until next time.
Foil balloons filled with helium can be emptied the same way. These can be refilled with helium when you want to use them again, however, float time cannot be guaranteed as reused foils may have been damaged when deflating/stored.
Storage and disposal
How should I store my balloons?
If you are buying your balloons for an event in the near future we suggest storing them away from light and heat. Latex balloons are biodegradable and therefore sensitive to both these elements.
Poppies For Grace packaged latex products will be labelled with a packaged date and we recommend using latex balloons within 12 months of packaging date.
How do I dispose of balloons thoughtfully?
So the party is over and clean up has begun - but what do you do with your latex balloons? It is super simple! Your first option - leave them up and keep the party going! Latex balloons can last for a long time so keep that garland up and enjoy them for as long as you like!
If it really is time to tidy up, take your balloons down and pop them. Latex balloons can be safely disposed of in your household waste.
Alternatively, you can recycle any brand of latex & foil balloons (some exclusions apply) at participating retail stores in your state via the Latex & Foil Balloon Free Recycling Program by TerraCycle.
If you have mylar or foil balloons, try and reuse them where you can.
Balloon releases
We would like organise a balloon release. Can you help us?
No. Releasing balloons into the environment is littering and is illegal in Victoria. If you live outside of Victoria, please check the relevant laws in your state as penalties may apply.
Balloons released into the environment via helium releases or otherwise can find their way into our waterways. Water will slow the breakdown of the latex and that means they can have a negative impact on the environment including posing a threat to wildlife. For that reason, we do not condone or supply balloons for balloon releases or the use of balloons outdoors on windy days.