How to seal an air mattress at home: 20 best repair methods

How to detect a hole

Finding holes in a mattress is not difficult. There are different methods that use various available materials - water, soap, starch, cling film and much more.

Aurally

The method is suitable in cases where a person does not have the necessary funds at hand. The mattress is inflated to an elastic state, and the person brings his ear to its surface. The characteristic hissing sounds will tell you where the hole is located.

Areas with damage are identified in other ways. A wet hand is brought to the mattress. With damp skin you can feel the air coming out of the hole.

Immersion in water

You can check the integrity of the product at sea if, after inflating, you immerse it completely in water. This option is suitable for owners of large products. Small or medium-sized ones are tested at home.

To do this, a large basin or bathtub is filled with water. The mattress is inflated and immersed in water. During the inspection, a cut will be found with air bubbles coming out of it.

Using detergents

The method is suitable for both the smallest and largest mattresses. Water and detergent are mixed in a container. Using whipping movements, bring the solution until a large amount of foam appears.

Using a sponge, the foam is applied to the surface of the mattress. Soon the person will notice air bubbles. The method is very simple and helps to quickly identify punctures.

Using shaving foam

A dense compound is used to check the tightness of the valve. A layer of foam is poured under it. At the slightest damage, a stream of air comes out of it.

Starch or powder

Powdered compounds help identify punctures on the velor surface of the mattress. In this case, foam is not used, since it is powerless on this material. The intended areas are sprinkled with starch, powder or flour. The cut will not be powdered, as the air flow will blow away the composition. Collect the remaining product with a vacuum cleaner.

Cling film

To check, the air mattress is wetted with water. After this, wrap it in cling film. Air will accumulate at the puncture sites.

How to avoid new damage

After successfully restoring a burst mattress, you must follow a number of rules for its use to avoid future damage.
First of all, it is important to carefully inspect the surface of the ground before placing the mattress on the grass, sand or floor. The presence of prickly and cutting objects is a serious threat to the product.

You cannot play on the mattress with pets, because they can damage its surface with sharp teeth or claws. Also, do not pull the mattress across the floor if there are people on it: this can lead to seams coming apart.

Many holes and damage to a mattress are not fatal. Therefore, it is not necessary to go to a workshop to fix the problem. It is enough to determine the cause of its occurrence and find a suitable recovery method.

Preparing for DIY repairs

The final result depends on the quality of gluing. To ensure that the product can be used after repair, careful preparation is carried out.

deflating

First, the air is released from the mattress. It must be completely deflated. The further stage of preparation depends on this.

Drying

The glue will not adhere well to the surface if the material is wet. Work is carried out only after complete drying. This may take up to 4 days.

Cleaning from contaminants

There should be no grains of sand or small debris on the mattress. Even the smallest particles will affect the quality of the bond. The sand must be swept away from the surface and the mattress vacuumed.

Degreasing

After use, cream remains on the mattress, as well as salts from sea water. Before gluing, the surface is degreased. Acetone or nail polish remover will come in handy.

Grouting with sandpaper

The procedure is not suitable for all surfaces. It is the final stage in preparing the product for repair. Fine-grained sandpaper is used.

Mattress repair - gluing, begins after completing all the preparatory stages.

Damage Prevention

To avoid the need for mattress repair, you need to use a number of tips:

do not throw the mattress without making sure that there are no sharp objects on the ground or floor;
when laying the product on the floor, cover it with thick fabric;
do not drag the inflated thing on the ground, do not “ride” children on it;
do not swim on a mattress that is not intended for this;
do not allow sudden jumps on the thing;
prevent damage to the product by pets;
Do not inflate the mattress too much (this will wear out faster).

What can I use to seal it?

The repair kit that comes with the mattress makes it easy to find the perfect material. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers take care of this. If a person does not have such an opportunity, improvised means are used for repairs.

Glue moment

The composition is suitable for gluing if the punctures are small. To bond surfaces, layers are applied very thinly. After 10 minutes setting occurs, and after a day the mattress can be used.

Super moment

The product is not always suitable for repairing air mattresses. After drying, a tight seam is formed. When inflating the product, there is a possibility that it will collapse. Due to low elasticity, it is used in rare cases.

Desmocol made of rubber

Has the property of forming an elastic seam. Pasting is carried out in two stages. 30 minutes after the first layer has dried, the second layer is applied. A load is placed at the processing site, and after 2 days the product is ready for use.

Adhesive for rubber boats

The composition is characterized by three properties - water resistance, strength and accessibility. For gluing air mattresses, glue with high heat resistance is selected. The higher this indicator, the better the final result.

PVC glue

A small amount of the composition can reliably glue surfaces together. For best effect, apply the product twice. Designed for mattresses made of polyvinyl chloride.

Intex glue

The product is designed specifically for gluing inflatable products. Thanks to its unique composition, it does not collapse under the influence of moisture. It sets quickly and extends its service life for a long time.

Air mattress repair kit

Manufacturers producing swimming products offer their products to customers. The repair kit includes adhesive and patches in several sizes. If it is not included in the basic package, it must be purchased separately.

"Uranus"

Polyurethane adhesive with one component in the composition is intended for elastic materials. Organic solvents and synthetic rubber create a homogeneous viscous mass. The product is colorless, has a pink or yellow tint that disappears after drying. The composition becomes hard when exposed to moist air.

"Moment Crystal"

Due to its transparency, it does not leave marks on the surface. Apply only to clean and grease-free fabric. Suitable for repairing colored mattresses. Quickly deals with small cuts.

Liquid patch

Due to its viscosity, it does not require the installation of a patch. Intex produces various liquid patches that you can choose according to the color of your product. Liquid patches help repair an air mattress in a short period of time. The product can be used 24 hours after drying.

Preparing the necessary tools and materials

Before starting work, it is better to immediately find the necessary devices and consumables. You will need good glue and a brush, a degreasing agent (acetone, solvent, alcohol), a mattress patch, and sandpaper. You may also need a hair dryer, pencil (marker), scissors. To press the gluing area, you should prepare a weight. In order not to look for all the specified things, you can purchase a ready-made repair kit for the mattress.

Adhesive composition

The mattress can only be properly glued if you use high-quality glue. You can buy a special or universal product, if you wish, but it is better to choose adhesives whose instructions indicate the possibility of repairing PVC products (for example, boats).

Superglues should not be used to seal the mattress. They contain cyanoacrylate, which can damage the material of the air mattress. You should also avoid using other compounds that have the ability to harden instantly - they create too hard a joint.

"Universal Moment"

This glue can be used to fasten a wide variety of materials, including PVC and rubber. The product is able to reliably attach a patch from a chamber or a piece of old rubber to the mattress without damaging the base material. The glue sets quickly and dries completely within a day.

Polyurethane Shoe Adhesive

This product is made on the basis of urethane resins. The glue is widely used for gluing leather, rubber, PVC, TPE and other shoe materials; it will also attach the patch to the mattress with no less quality. Between the surfaces being glued, the composition forms a durable layer that does not collapse over time. An example of a good polyurethane glue is Desmokol.

PVC glue

PVC glue “Liquid Patch” was created specifically for the repair of inflatable products: mattresses, boats, swimming pools, awnings, toys. It contains PVC and active reagents. The glue is waterproof, frost-resistant, and comes in different color variations. It can be applied to small cuts and holes (up to 3 cm) without a patch. You will be allowed to use the mattress after a day, but the “Liquid Patch” gains its final strength only after 7-10 days.

"Super Moment 1"

It is not recommended to use “Super Moment” to repair mattresses; after hardening, the seam will be too hard and will begin to collapse when air is pumped. The reason is the low elasticity of the composition, which is only suitable for stable, hard bases.

Rubber glue

Typically, the product is used to glue a rubber patch to a mattress. This glue contains rubber (natural or artificial), so it adheres well to these materials. The product is applied to both surfaces, pressed, a weight is placed, and within a day a strong adhesive seam will be obtained.

Repair kit Intex 59632

Intex is considered a leading manufacturer in the market of inflatable products, including mattresses. It produces special repair kits, which are equipped with a transparent patch 6.5 * 18 cm, Vinyl Cement glue with a tube volume of 5.7 g. The kit also includes detailed instructions for using the accessories. Thanks to the transparency of the patch, the repair kit will give a second life to the mattress without spoiling its appearance. In addition, it can be used to repair other inflatable products:

beds;
pillows;
sofas;
children's play centers;
boats, etc.

Materials for the patch

If you can’t buy a ready-made repair kit, you can create a patch yourself. Any rubber product is suitable for this purpose - a swimming cap, an old inner tube, a mattress, a pillow, an inflatable toy. An armlet, a pool, a circle, a ball are also suitable. From the listed products, cut out a round patch that has no corners, and it should cover the hole by 2-3 cm on each side.

As a last resort, if there is no rubber at all, you can take a piece of cotton fabric to make a patch. It is coated well with rubber glue on both sides, the mixture is allowed to absorb and dry a little, then it is used as a regular rubber patch. Usually a piece of 3-4 cm is enough.

Making a patch

You can make a mattress patch yourself. Simple materials that can be found in every person’s arsenal are suitable for this.

Rubber from a tire repair kit

Every motorist has such a kit. A patch of the required size is cut out of rubber and placed on damaged areas. You can also use the glue included in the kit.

Old tire

Tires that have become unusable are suitable for repairing air mattresses. Motorists are in no hurry to say goodbye to old tires. They help out in many situations, including this one.

Inflatable toy

Perfect for renovation. The toys are made from the same material as an air mattress. An old and broken product that has not been used for a long time will come in handy.

Rubber swimming cap

Elastic material can be an excellent basis for making a patch. Suitable for cutting products of any size.

Unusable air mattress

The most ideal option, as it is made of the same material. You can make many patches of different sizes from it. In addition, you can take any piece of fabric.

Leak source detection

Before you repair an air mattress, you need to identify the location of the crack or tear. This can be done at home using several tricks, namely:

Using a foam solution.
You need to inflate the mattress and apply soap foam to the areas of suspected damage. Where there is damage, foam will bubble.

Determining a breakdown by ear.
You need to inflate the mattress in a quiet room and listen - a hissing sound will be heard near the hole as a sign that air is leaving the product.

If you find a hole, it is better to mark its location with a marker or pen. Even if one hole is found, it is recommended to check the entire mattress for other damage.

On video:

How to find a hole in an air mattress.

Sealing

The repair method depends on where the hole is located.

Normal

For each damage, a separate patch is taken. It is made from rubber or cotton, well impregnated with glue. The repair steps are as follows:

The adhesive composition is applied to the patch and the surface of the mattress in a thick layer.
After waiting the time specified in the instructions, the patch is applied tightly to the product.
If necessary, a press is also installed.
Some materials are heated with a hairdryer for better adhesion.

At the junction of seams

After small cuts, holes and punctures on the mattress, the seams come apart. Even such damage can be repaired. There are two methods - outside and inside.

Outside

After washing off the lint, the patch is glued according to the instructions developed by the manufacturer. This option is not very popular. Placing a patch in this manner spoils the appearance of the product.

From the inside

An excellent alternative to the first method. The damaged area of the mattress is pulled out through the valve. After cleaning and degreasing, the patch is glued. The air mattress is turned inside out after the adhesive has completely dried.

Causes of damage to air mattresses

The appearance of a hole in the mattress is not a reason to get rid of it. You can eliminate the defect yourself if you know the reason for its occurrence. There are different reasons for product damage:

Piercing or cutting the surface of the mattress;
Rupture of partitions inside the structure;
Seams coming apart.

To seal a small puncture, you can use adhesive and special patches. But if the internal partitions or seams have been damaged, repairing the mattress will require professional help.

Some manufacturers of mattress products offer in-home warranty service, which is very convenient.
At the same time, other cuts and punctures can be easily removed with your own hands. The reason for the constant deflation of the mattress can be daily use with an impressive load on it. In this case, the volume is lost insignificantly, so there is no need to resort to any actions other than pumping up air. If the mattress has lost its air literally overnight, you will have to identify the damaged area.

Often mattresses become unusable due to a serious manufacturing defect. Even models from trusted manufacturers are often sold defective. To prevent the purchase of such a product, you need to check it for punctures and holes in the store. To do this, you can treat the area near the valve with a soap solution.

Method without using glue at home

This option is suitable if the product urgently needs repairs, but there is no glue or patches on hand. To repair, you will need paper, an iron and a flat wooden surface.

Actions during repair:

After cleaning, the damaged area is laid out on a wooden surface.
The soldering area is covered with paper and ironed with a hot iron.
After the paper and the gluing area have cooled, it is removed.
The valve is screwed into place.

The “quick” repair method helps solve the problem in 5-10 minutes when a break is detected. It is important not to touch whole areas with the hot iron. Hot steam can burn the mattress.

How to seal a hole on the velor side?

If the defect appears on the velor side of the Intex product, it will not be possible to make the patch invisible. The surface is carefully cleaned with fine sandpaper and treated with alcohol. If this is not done, the lint will prevent the patch from fitting tightly. Then the patch (in this case it must be made of a special material - flock) is glued using the same technology as the patch on the smooth side.

If the restoration does not work, try to close the gap again.

To make the damage site less noticeable, you can try gluing the patch on the inside. The advantage of this method is that air will be pressed on the patch from the inside and the damaged area will be reliably protected.

Be especially careful to coat the edges of the patch with glue.

Technology of gluing a patch to a mattress

The volume of adhesive used depends on its type. Moment glue is applied in a thick layer. In the case of Desmokol, this cannot be done.

The applied glue is slightly dried (up to 10 minutes, no more). Recommendations are specified in the instructions. This time can be reduced slightly by using a hair dryer.

All that remains is to apply the patch, press it to the surface, then dry it under a weight. The time also depends on the glue. The standard period is from half an hour to one day.