Filling Instructions

How To Fill A Bean Bag

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Filling and emptying your bean bag

In this page we cover how to fill and empty your bean bag. Our bean bags are fitted with lockable zips to comply with Australian Safety Standards, to prevent access by children. The beans could be harmful if inhaled or ingested by children or animals but otherwise are non-toxic. Because of this, you will need to unlock the zip, outlined 

The instructions below will probably take longer to read than to do the deed, but please read them carefully first to help make this as easy as it should be.

Before you start...

CAUTION: Ensure that children or animals are not around you when you fill your bean bag. 
The beans can obstruct the airways of the nose or lungs if they are inhaled - prevention is much better than the cure.

Find an assistant - it is much easier if you can get someone to help you!

In preparation, you will need:

• A paperclip that has been unfolded and slightly straightened. This will be used to unlock the safety mechanism in the zipper slider - see pictures below.
• A bucket to scoop up any beans spilled and to add the beans to the bag. Do not use a vacuum cleaner for large amounts, it could cause it to overheat.
• A sack or a bag with no holes in it if you wish to store the beans (inside-out pillow slips are ideal),
• A vacuum cleaner or a dustpan and broom to clean up any stray beans spilled.
• The use of a draught-free area like the bathroom. The bathtub is ideal for catching any spillage, but a shower recess will do - just somewhere where you can contain the beans if you spill any. Make sure you plug the drain hole in the bath or shower recess to prevent the beans going down the drain.

• With the bean bag or chair upside-down, open the zip as shown in the example images below:

See further below for instructions on emptying a bean bag.

Note: Bean bags supplied with liners will not usually have this filling chute installed.

Filling the bag:

1. Having unzipped both zippers and with the bag upside-down, hold the chute of the bag open with both hands.
2. Cut the corner off the plastic bag with scissors to create a makeshift "spout".
3. Have your assistant clasp the corner of the bag closed until ready to pour and turn the filling bag upside-down so the "spout" of the bag is inside the filling chute of the bean bag.
4. Then, your assistant to carefully release their grip on the corner of the bag containing the beans so that the beans start to pour down through the bean bag chute into the bean bag.
5. Don't over-fill! Leave room at the top of the bag so that the beans can move when you sit on the bag. If you are not sure, you can close the zip and turn the bag over to try it out and repeat the process until it is filled enough and comfortable to sit on.
6. Keep your eye on the bean bag filling up and have your friend pinch the spout of the filling bag when ready to stop.
7. When filled to requirement, use the paperclip to close the outer and inner zips tight and then remove the paperclip. The zipper heads will automatically lock when paperclip is removed.
8. If any beans are left in your storage bag, securely tie the top and store the bean fill where children cannot get access to it.

Emptying the bag (with installed filling chute):
THIS PROCEDURE IS FOR BEAN BAGS INSTALLED WITH AN INTERNAL FUNNEL

1. Ensure you have a bag to contain your emptied filling that is large enough, or at have enough bags to store the volume of beans in your bean bag. If you are not sure how much is in your bean bag, you can refer to the filling volumes table on the Filling page.
2. Open the out zipper by using an unfolded paperclip inserted in the hole of the zipper slider. As you pull the zipper slider open by the inserted paperclip, it will cause the locking mechanism to release allowing the slider to glide freely. 
3.  With the inner zip now opened, use your hand to choke the internal funnel which will prevent the beans pouring out. Turn the bag right-way-up so the beans are ready to flow down through the chute at the base while controlling flow with your hand. You may definitely need help to do this.
4. With a friend holding the storage bag open over the spill area (such as a bathtub), position the chute into the receiving bag and release your grip on the neck of the chute to allow the beans to flow down.
5. As the beans fill near to the top of the receiving bag, choke the chute again to stop the flow.
6. Close the outer and inner zippers of your bean bag to prevent any left over beans from coming out.
7. Securely tie-off the storage bag with a twist tie or something similar and store the excess beans where children or pets cannot have access to it.

Emptying the bag (with supplied internal liner bag):
THIS PROCEDURE IS FOR BEAN BAGS SUPPLIED WITH AN INTERNAL LINER BAG

1. Have the correct size bag or bags on hand to hold and store your emptied bean filling. Refer to the filling volumes table for more information.
   
2. Locate the cover's zipper at the base of the bean bag and use an unfolded paperclip to unlock the safety slider on the zip, pulling the zipper open with the paperclip.
   
3. Inside you will see the internal bag liner. Pull the liner with beans enclosed out of the outer cover.
   
4. If the liner bags's slider has had its tag removed, then thread the paperclip through the hole of the slider and use it as the pull tag to open the bag only about 10cm.
   
5. Grasp the opened end of the liner bag with your hand to control the flow of beans.
   
6. Have a friend hold the receiving bag open for you.
   
7. Holding the liner bag zipper down, let gravity do the work of pouring the beans into the bag your friend is holding. If the receiving bag is not big enough for all the beans, then be ready to choke the flow with your hand as receiving bag becomes full.

Groovy art installation - she needs more beans in her bag

How long do the beans last?
This depends greatly on how you use the bean bag, but based on our experience of over 15 years in the bean bag business, typically with daily use you can expect to get 12 months to 2 years of use from the original filling. Then, when the beans have reduced or flattened down in your bag and it is not as comfortable as it usually is, a simple top-up with EPS beans of around 25-50% of the volume of the bag may be required.

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More Questions? Comments? Feedback?

If you have any queries or comments about filling our bean bags please feel free to contact us.

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