How and how can you seal an air mattress at home?

Air mattresses are very convenient in operation, and therefore are very popular. The product can replace a regular bed, and can also be used for relaxing in pools and open water. The disadvantage of such a mattress is that it can be easily pierced. However, there is no need to rush to throw out the damaged product, since in many cases the defect is easily eliminated. In this article, we will talk about how and how to properly seal an air mattress at home.

A hole in an air mattress is a fairly common problem that almost all product owners face. It can break from improper use and storage. In addition, a cut can appear from any sharp objects in the house and in nature, as well as as a result of contact with the claws or teeth of animals.

In most cases, the surface can be sealed and safely continue to use the product. But in order to assess the degree of damage, as well as to start filling holes, they must first be detected. First you need to inflate the mattress and carefully examine the places that are most susceptible to the negative effects of external factors.

• Fold area – as a result of prolonged storage in the folded state, the material may simply dry out and crack.
• seams may break due to careless handling of the mattress. If you inflate it too much or jump on an inflated product, this can lead to cracking.
• Down side or the bottom is in direct contact with the floor or the ground. Holes can form in this area due to contact with branches, rocks, or other hard and pointed objects.
• Outer side, which does not come into contact with the floor, often "suffers" from the impact of solid accessories on the human body, as well as accessories on clothes or shoes. Also, the upper side is often spoiled by animals.
• Valve may begin to release air for the reason that over time it wears out and ceases to be completely tight.

This method is convenient only when it is possible to lower the entire mattress into a pool or open pond. The product must first be inflated. After diving, bubbles will begin to appear from the hole. If the mattress is small, then you can try to lower it into a regular bathtub filled with water. However, even the smallest models usually do not fit completely in the bath, and therefore it will be problematic to detect a defect.

If the mattress releases air quite strongly, you can quickly find the puncture site by sound.To do this, you need to inflate the product well and listen to what sounds and where they come from.

Before proceeding with the diagnosis of the surface of the mattress, it is necessary to prepare a foam solution. To do this, it is enough to mix soap, dishwashing detergent or shower gel with a little water and beat well until a foam forms. The mattress is inflated and its surface is coated with foam. In the place where there is a hole, bubbles will appear on the foam.

If it is necessary to examine the valve area, then it is best to use shaving foam for these purposes.

Using starch to find a hole is useful only when there are certain assumptions regarding which area the hole is in. The intended puncture site is sprinkled with potato or corn starch. If there is indeed damage, then a small “cloud” is formed above it due to bubbles emerging on the surface. If necessary you can sprinkle with starch and the entire surface of the mattress. However, after a defect is detected, the product will have to be vacuumed well.

The mattress, as in the previous methods, must be inflated. The surface is wiped with a damp cloth or moistened with a spray bottle. Pieces of cling film are placed on the product. In places where there are punctures, the film will rise slightly.

All methods of finding a defect are to detect or feel the flow of air that will come out of the hole. The mattress must first be inflated well. You can move your palms near all surfaces of the mattress to feel the air stream.

It is better to wet your hands with plain water first. Also, above the surface of the product, you can fire with a lighter or candle. Near damaged areas, the flame will go to the side. You need to be very careful when checking the mattress in this way so as not to set anything on fire.

Pets such as cats quickly look for holes. They are naturally curious and have keen ears. The cat will easily detect the outgoing air flow and, most likely, will begin to play with it.

When you managed to find a hole in the mattress, you can proceed directly to its elimination. First you need to prepare all the necessary compositions and tools. The set of necessary tools may be different each time, depending on the type and degree of damage to the product. Many manufacturers produce special patches in addition to mattresses, which are convenient to use for patching holes.

If, when buying a product, no funds were included with it, then you will have to use improvised means. First of all, you will need adhesive composition. Since air mattresses are made of PVC fabric, it is best to use polyurethane compounds. If the inflatable product is used for swimming in pools or natural water bodies, then waterproof adhesive mixtures must be used for gluing. It is best to purchase a special composition for the repair of inflatable boats.

It is also not recommended to use various adhesive mixtures, which include cyanoacrylates, as they can damage the surface of the mattress. The second important item for gluing a mattress is a patch. As it can be used a piece of rubber. If there is no ready-made patch, then it can be cut from the following things:

• cap for the pool;
• inflatable balls or toys;
• bicycle camera;
• inflatable pool;
• vest or sleeves for swimming.

At the stage of searching for a defect on the surface of the product, it is important not to forget to mark it with a marker after detection. It is advisable to wash the mattress and dry it completely in a natural way. The battery or hot air from the hair dryer can cause new holes to form.

Next, you need to deal with the place where the puncture was found.If the smooth side is damaged, it is necessary to clean it of dirt and grease with ethyl alcohol, nail polish remover, gasoline or other similar composition. The patch is wiped with the same tool. To make the bonding more reliable, the surfaces additionally treated with fine-grained sandpaper.

If you need to glue the velor side, then you must first remove the pile. The area where the hole was found is soaked in acetone or medical alcohol, and then allowed to dry. After drying, the fleecy coating must be carefully pry with a knife or screwdriver and removed. When the pile is removed, the surfaces are also degreased and processed with sandpaper, as in the first case.

There are several ways to glue a mattress. The choice of the appropriate method depends on the nature and extent of the damage. It is worth noting that not all holes can be closed on their own. Applying a patch to holes larger than 3 centimeters in diameter can be problematic. Small holes can be easily repaired at home.

If all the preparatory work was carried out in advance, then the process of sticking the mattress will not take much time. The main thing is that the glue, the patch are prepared, the surfaces are cleaned. The area around the hole is smeared with an adhesive mixture and covered with a rubber patch.

It is advisable to firmly press the gluing place and do not let go for about a minute. Then it is recommended to put some load on the glued surfaces. The drying time of the adhesive depends on its type and composition.

Due to careless handling of an air mattress, the seams may come apart. It is much more problematic to eliminate such defects than to seal small holes. You can glue the seams in two ways:

• gluing from the inside;
• bonding on the outside.

To close the seam from the inside, you need to pull it out through the hole in the mattress, which is located in the place of the valve. To open access to this hole, the valve must be unscrewed. Places of gluing and a patch are treated with an alcohol-containing degreasing compound.

After that, an adhesive mixture is applied to the surface and the damaged area is fastened with a rubber patch. For better adhesion, you can place the glued surfaces under pressure. The seam is returned to its original position through the hole under the valve only after the glue has completely dried.

Gluing on the outside is less reliable than on the inside. The principle of operation here will be almost completely identical to the first case. Surfaces are cleaned of dirt and degreased. For better adhesion to the patch, it is recommended to treat the damaged areas with sandpaper. The rubber patch is also degreased and cleaned with sandpaper. After that, an adhesive composition is applied to it. It is better to place the glued area under the press and leave the glue to dry for at least a day.

How to glue an air mattress, see the following video.

Not always the reason for lowering the mattress is a puncture. The valve itself can let air through. To eliminate the malfunction, the valve must first be unscrewed. The surface area is cleaned of dirt, after which the rubber gasket is removed. From the end side, the valve must be processed with sandpaper.The same manipulations are performed with a rubber membrane. A lubricant is applied to the valve, which can be used as ordinary sunflower oil. The structure is assembled in its original position.

After the gasket has been returned to its place and the valve has been screwed in, it is necessary to carry out a test for defects. The mattress is inflated, and the area around the structure is lubricated with soapy water or shaving foam. If air bubbles do not come out of the valve, then the problem is fixed.

Most often, holes on the surface of the mattress are formed as a result of errors in operation. In order for the product to serve for a long time, it is necessary to follow a number of simple recommendations.

• When placing the mattress on a horizontal surface, you must be extremely careful. It is important to inspect the place and make sure that there are no sharp and hard objects under the product. It is best to additionally lay a blanket made of thick fabric under the mattress.
• When the product is used for recreation on the water, it must be dried well after each water treatment. Only after thorough drying, the mattress can be folded and removed. Otherwise, mold may form on it, as a result of which damage in the form of cracks will appear on the surface.
• It is not advisable to inflate the product to the stop. When inflated, the mattress should sag slightly.
• From time to time the mattress needs to be washed. To clean the surface from contamination, do not use aggressive chemicals, as well as abrasive substances.For these purposes, a mild soapy solution is suitable.
• It is not advisable to move the mattress in an inflated state to a new place. This can damage the seams of the product.
• When lowering the air from the mattress, do not try to speed up this process and press on the surface.
• It is not necessary to subject the inflated product to heavy loads, as well as to sit down abruptly or jump on it.
• The product must be kept away from animals and birds. Sharp claws, teeth or a beak can easily pierce a mattress.