How to patch an inflatable mattress - all your options are included.
An air mattress can be rendered useless by a pin-sized hole.The $30 to $300 you paid for an inflatable bed can be wasted if you dispose of it in the wrong way.Fortunately, a leak can be repaired with supplies you already have on hand, and these simple steps for how to patch an air mattress.
When a mattress deflates, it might not be a puncture that is to blame, but a loss of pressure caused by temperature changes.If a leak is the culprit, act fast.The bigger the hole, the harder it will be to repair it.
To find the leak in the air mattress, simply listen and apply gentle pressure to the mattress with your hand.Listen for a hissing quiet sound on the bottom of the bed, where leaks are most likely to occur.Lying on the bed could enlarge the hole.You have to work your way around the entire mattress until you find the source.Before repairing the mattress, deflate it.
If listening doesn't find the leak, you can pass it an inch or two away from the mattress.The source of the leak should give you a cool burst of air.To deflate your air bed, you need to note the area with a marker.Try one last trick.
You can mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a spray bottle.Working in small sections, spray the solution on the inflated mattress.Air escaping from the leak will cause soap bubbles to form.deflate the entire bed if you note the spot with a marker.
Clean a small area around the leak extending an inch or two beyond where your patch will be placed with a bit of all-purpose cleaner and a lint-free rag, then dry the area completely.
If the mattress has a suede-like flocking finish, you can remove the texture by using a rag, sanding gently, and then cleaning the sanded area.This will give the glue a smooth surface.
To seal the hole, use the patch kit that came with the air mattress.You can buy patch kits at mass merchandisers, or use a bicycle tire repair kit to do the job.If you are in a pinch, use any thin plastic material, such as a tarp or a piece of shower curtain liner.
The hole on all sides is larger than the patch.The patch should be applied generously in the center.If you have gorilla glue, contact cement, and rubber cement on hand, you should be able to make repairs with them, even if you don't have Coghlan's Airstop Sealant, which has more than 1,000 positive reviews on Amazon.
You can patch the air mattress hole with this sticky piece of plastic and press down firmly, rubbing in a circular motion to remove any air bubbles and ensure a tight seal between the patch and the mattress.