Cut out a patch from the plastic material. Generally, you want the patch to be big enough to cover the hole with an added half-inch of plastic around the hole. Apply glue all the way around the patch’s outside border. Cover the hole completely by gently pressing the patch onto the surface of the air mattress.
Quick Answer
All air mattresses lose some inflation over time.
However, if you’ve noticed that your air mattress loses too much air or doesn’t stay inflated, it’s likely that you have a hole.
Luckily, air mattress repair is typically an easy process with either a patch kit or a DIY method.
To fix the leak, you need to locate the hole and clean the area.
Then, use an adhesive and some plastic or vinyl patches to cover the leak.
You can test the patch to make sure the mattress is no longer leaking after allowing it to be set for a few hours.
We’ll go over the precise supplies and procedures you’ll need to know in order to fix your leaky air mattress.
Table of Contents
How to Patch an Air Mattress?
Patching an air mattress only takes a few steps and materials.
After gathering what you need, you’ll go through the following steps:
- Find The Hole
- Clean The Surface
- Patch The Hole
- Apply Pressure And Wait For The Remedy
- Check Seal
While these steps seem simple, some are more complicated.
For example, it’s not always simple to notice a small hole in an air mattress.
Precision and perseverance are needed when patching the hole.
Overall, by following these instructions, you may fix your air mattress and once again use it to sleep peacefully.
What Supplies and Equipment You’ll Need?
Gentle Cleanser: Dish soap or detergent is a gentle cleaner that aids in spotting leaks and in cleaning the area that needs to be patched.
Sponge or Cleaning Towel: Using a moist sponge or cleaning cloth, you may clean the air mattress.
Additionally, it helps in the search for the hole.
Tissue: Placing a single tissue or paper towel on the mattress helps you to spot escaping air.
Manufacturer’s Patch Kit: Many air mattresses come with a patch kit.
These kits typically include an adhesive, an applicator, and patches made of the same material as your air mattress.
Other Patch Kit: If your air mattress didn’t come with a kit or you can’t locate it, you can purchase air mattress patch kits online or at brick-and-mortar retailers.
These kits include the same fundamental components as the manufacturer’s kit.
You might think about purchasing a kit that includes patches that are the same material and color as your air mattress.
Thin Plastic Material: If you are not utilizing a kit, you will need to make a patch from some thin plastic material.
A shower curtain liner or other durable plastic will suffice.
Adhesive: If you’re not utilizing a patch kit, you’ll also need some adhesive.
Consider using a strong glue, preferably one meant for plastic or one that dries airtight.
Flat, Heavy Object: After putting the patch, lay this object on the mattress to provide the patch time to cure and attach.
Consider using a book or box filled with heavy items.
Step 1: Locate the Hole
The leak in your air mattress may sometimes be obvious, but it may be challenging to locate the hole.
You can follow a few steps to find the leak.
First, lay the mattress flat on the ground and inflate it.
Once it is inflated, look over it to look for any damage.
If you observe any scuffs or rips, identify the location of the leak by laying your palm over the area and feeling for escaping air.
Inspect the seams and air intake regions as well, since these are popular sites for holes to form.
If there are no obvious abnormalities, run your palm over the surface of the whole mattress to check if you can feel any air escaping.
Lay your ear against the mattress’ top while still lying on it.
Air leak noises should be heard.
The following technique uses just one tissue or paper towel.
Place the tissue on the air mattress’ surface beginning in a corner.
Then, gently press down on the mattress and direct air toward that corner.
Continue this method by moving the tissue into different areas of the mattress and directing air toward it.
If the tissue blows upward, you know that the air leak is near.
The soapy water method is the last option.
A wet sponge or towel and a mild cleaner are required for this.
When soap bubbles start to develop, rub the cleaner into the sponge.
Then press down and direct air toward the area where the sponge was applied to the mattress.
You’ll know you’ve found the hole if you see expanding bubbles.
Step 2: Clean the Surface
To ensure that the patch and adhesive attach to the surface, it’s important to clean it.
Using a wet cleaning cloth, moisten the area around the leak.
Then use a light cleaner like dish soap or detergent and use the cloth to gently scrape the surface.
Use the cloth after rinsing it to remove the soap from the mattress.
Before trying to repair the hole, let the surface thoroughly dry out in the air.
Step 3: Fill the Hole
Use the patch kit according to the manufacturer’s or third party’s instructions if you’re using one.
For those fixing the leak with household objects, the first step is to deflate the mattress.
Lay it on a flat surface with the hole in a prominent position.
Cut out a patch from the plastic material.
Generally, you want the patch to be big enough to cover the hole with an added half-inch of plastic around the hole.
Apply glue all the way around the patch’s outside border.
Cover the hole entirely by gently pressing the patch into the surface of the air mattress.
In order to prevent a new hole from forming the next time you inflate the mattress, make sure that no adhesive seeps through the hole and onto the mattress base.
Step 4: Apply Pressure and Allow to Cure
To make sure that the patch stays in place, it is important to apply pressure and give the patch time to set.
Put a flat item on top of the patched area, such as a hefty book or box.
This will keep the patch from slipping and make sure that the adhesive fully clings to the surface.
Ensure that there is not any extra glue around the margins of the patch that might potentially cause the mattress to stick to the heavier item.
Leave your air mattress like this to heal for around 8 hours before removing the heavy item and testing the patch.
Step 5: Test Seal
The next step is to test the seal after the patch has been applied and has had some time to set.
This will guarantee that the leak has been fixed and that the air mattress won’t deflate the next time you use it.
Inflate the mattress completely.
Lay it on the ground and press on it, directing air toward the patch.
Feel or listen for any escaping air.
Whether the seal looks tight, lie on the mattress for a few minutes to check if it starts to deflate.
The hole has been sealed if the air mattress doesn’t seem to be losing air.
If air is indeed leaking from the patch, make an effort to remove it before repeating Steps 2 through 5.
You might have a second hole if the patch appears to be secure but the mattress is still losing air.
Start from the beginning to locate the second leak and repair it.
