How to seal an air mattress at home Bestway, Intex

It would seem that such a device has solid pluses: there are places to put guests as well, and on a hike it will allow you to sleep comfortably and swimming on it is a pleasure. And most importantly - in a deflated state it takes up very little space. But to damage it easily, without even noticing it. It is enough to inflate the mattress too much, put it on sunflowers or on the ground in the forest, where dry grass sticks out. And if he was chosen by a pet, then there is no way to avoid a puncture. Blown away decubitusmattress? How to find a hole? How to seal a hole in an air mattress quickly, efficiently and without unnecessary costs?

How to search for a gap

How to find a hole in an inflatable bed or mattress? First you need to find a hole in the air mattress. It is difficult to do this with the naked eye. Especially when he is in a deflated state. Inflate the product “to the knock” and check the most frequent places of damage.

• Bottom. Any solid object on the surface where we put the mattress here can punch a hole: stone, dry grass, a hat from a nail on the floor.
• Upper side. Here we can pierce the mattress with accessories on clothes, a hair clip or an earring. Pet claws are also a common cause.
• Stitches. Mattresses are torn at the seam because they were too inflated, from sudden landings or children's games with jumping.
• Valve. Dust, hair and other debris can get into the mechanism. Leaks, and the valve begins to let air through.
• Joints with partitions. The reason why they are torn is the increase in pressure inside the mattress and the uneven load on the surface. And this happens again, when the product is strongly inflated or plopped sharply with all its weight. Especially often this "sore" is found in models with cupholders.
• Folds. When the mattress is stored for a long time when folded, it is on the bend that the material loses its elasticity and subsequently a hole may appear.

Carefully inspect every millimeter of the surface. If there are relatively large damages, then you can easily find them. And to find small punctures, there are the following methods.

Aurally

1. Inflate the mattress tightly.
2. Create silence as much as possible.
3. Bring your ear close to the surface and listen. A light hiss will give a puncture site.
4. Explore the entire area of ​​the mattress in this way.
5. Listen separately to the valve, it can also “poison” the air.

Using water

1. Inflate the mattress.
2. Dip it under water. Air bubbles will come out of the cut.
3. Inspect the product from all sides.

Soap solution

1. Inflate the product.
2. Foam the solution with a sponge.
3. Apply foam to the test area. If there is a hole, bubbles will inflate from it.
4. Treat the entire surface.

Shaving foam

1. Inflate the mattress tightly.
2. Pour shaving foam under the valve.
3. In the places of damage bubbles will come out.

Starch

1. Inflate the mattress tightly.
2. Sprinkle the surface with starch. A “cloud” will appear at the puncture site.
3. Treat the entire area in this way.
4. Vacuum the mattress.

Cling film

1. Inflate the mattress.
2. Moisten the spray surface.
3. Cover the area with cling film.
4. In places of punctures under the film air will accumulate.

What is needed

Well, if you have preserved the "native" repair kit, which comes with a mattress. Not? We'll have to use the tools at hand. To properly repair a sleeping air mattress, you need to choose the right glue and patch material.

Glue

It is better to use one of the polyurethane adhesives, they are specifically designed for PVC surfaces:

• Crystal Moment;
• Uranus for rubber boats;
• glue for shoes, for example, Desmokol;
• any glue for rubber;
• glue from Intex (a company producing inflatable pools, boats, mattresses and furniture).

If you use an inflatable mattress for swimming, then it is better to glue it with “native” glue or rubber boat compound.

Patch material

What material is better to stick on an air mattress? Fit:

• tires from a tire repair kit;
• old tire;
• inflatable toy;
• rubber cap for swimming;
• unusable air mattress.

How to prepare surfaces

Before starting work, you need to blow off and thoroughly dry the product if you used water when searching for punctures. Then you need to properly prepare the place of damage and the patch. Here the type of surface matters.

To stick the air mattress on the smooth side, degrease the rubber surface and the patch with acetone, gasoline, white spirit or alcohol. Suitable for nail polish remover. Then it is necessary to clean the parts with fine-grained sandpaper, preferably null. This is done so that the clutch is as strong as possible.

Ways to seal an air mattress with a repair kit ...

Typically, mattresses are equipped with a repair kit from the manufacturer. It includes special glue, vinyl for patches and brief instructions for use. On average, the material is enough for two or three holes. If the patch is over, but the glue remains, do not throw it away, because it can be stored for about two years and will probably come in handy.

A instructions for use involves four actions.

1. On previously prepared surfaces of the mattress and patches, glue should be applied with a thin layer.
2. Combine the details.
3. Press firmly. 20-30 seconds is enough.
4. Keep under pressure for at least four to five hours.

... and other means

And you can do without a repair kit. After you have discovered a hole, found a suitable adhesive and patch, prepared the surface, you can proceed with the repair.

On a tube of any glue it is written how to use it correctly. If you do not have the opportunity to read the instructions, for example, the tube is severely wrinkled or the paint is worn off in places, then the following table will help you figure it out.

Table - Instructions for the use of various types of glue

If the seam is open

Features A patch placed at the junction of the top of the mattress and the bottom may not be reliable even if all the bonding rules are followed. Here you have to contrive and pull out the puncture site through the valve.

What is needed:

• glue for PVC;
• Latka.

Your actions

1. Unscrew valve.
2. Pull the damaged area into the valve opening using, for example, a thick marker or a plastic ruler.
3. Degrease and clean both surfaces.
4. Then proceed according to the instructions for use of the adhesive.

The way without glue

Features If you don’t have the right materials at hand, there’s a way
repair the mattress without glue and patch at all.

What is needed:

• iron;
• paper;
• smooth wooden surface.

Your actions

1. Pull out the damaged area through the valve opening.
2. Clean from dirt and dust.
3. Align the edges of the gap and lay on a wooden substrate.
4. Cover the weld area with paper.
5. Iron with a preheated iron.
6. Wait until the paper and the glued place have cooled.
7. Carefully remove the paper.
8. Screw the valve.

Super glue method

Features This method is the simplest and fastest of those proposed. But you need to understand that superglue results in a brittle bonding similar to thin glass. Such a composition is non-waterproof and inelastic. That is, it can burst at any time. But as an emergency measure, for example, in a campaign, it is quite suitable.

What is needed:

• Super glue;
• paper tape.

Your actions

1. Inflate the mattress.
2. To dry.
3. Clean and degrease the damaged surface.
4. Apply a small amount of superglue.
5. Apply a patch of tape of the required size.
6. Quickly rub the edges and squeeze the patch with force.
7. Let the glue dry.
8. The product is ready for use.

The method of "Liquid Latka"

Features There is another method how to quickly and easily fix an air mattress without a patch. For him, you need a composition called "Liquid Latka". The glue has many colors, there is even a shade called Intex. That is, designed specifically for inflatable products of this manufacturer. Holes up to 3 cm do not need additional bonding methods. And cuts over this size will need to be sewn with a regular thread.

What you need:

• tube of "Liquid Latka".

Your actions

1. Spread the damaged area on a flat surface.
2. Clean from dust and dirt.
3. Degrease the surface thoroughly with alcohol or thinner.
4. Shake the tube with glue vigorously.
5. Apply to damage, protruding 2-3 cm beyond the edges.
6. Soak for seven to ten minutes.
7. To apply the second layer of "Liquid Latka".
8. The product can be inflated in a day.

If the valve “skips”

Features Not always the culprit of the “leak” is a rubber sheet or a torn seam. Pressure may drop due to leaking valve. But this trouble can be eliminated with your own hands.

What is needed:

• fine-grained sandpaper;
• grease.

Your actions

1. Unscrew valve.
2. Clean grooves from dust and debris.
3. Remove the rubber gasket.
4. Sand the end face of the valve and gasket.
5. Lubricate the valve.
6. Screw the structure into place.
7. Inflate the mattress.
8. Apply soapy water to the valve.
9. If no bubbles appear, the mattress is ready for use.

How to avoid new damage

After successful repair of the mattress, it is important to take into account past mistakes and prevent the occurrence of new punctures and cuts. And for this you need to follow simple operating rules.

• See where you put the mattress. Remove all rubbish, sharp objects, stones. If necessary, place a thick cloth, blanket or blanket under the mattress.
• Do not inflate the mattress too tight. In the "ready" state, it should remain soft and supple.
• Keep pets away from the product. Even just jumping onto the mattress, animals can pierce the surface with claws.
• Do not move the inflated mattress. Especially if someone is already lying on it. So partitions and seams are torn.
• Do not sit abruptly and do not jump on the mattress. These actions can also lead to rupture of seams and joints of partitions.
• Lower the product slowly. Allow the mattress to deflate on its own; excessive pressure can break the partitions.
• Wash the product with a mild soapy solution. The less aggressive “chemistry” you apply, the longer the material of the mattress will remain elastic.
• Before folding the device, dry it. Residual moisture contributes to the growth of mold and cracking of the product material.

So, do you blow off an air mattress or a circle? Conclusion: to repair an air mattress or a circle with your own hands is quite possible. But if the above methods did not help or the damage exceeds the size of 3-5 cm - it is better to contact the master: service centers can be at stores specializing in selling goods for home and leisure. Perhaps they can even help in a shoe workshop.

Reviews and experience experienced

A simple repair, I repeatedly did it myself, to seal the hole from the inside ... the repair kit comes with the mattress, just bring the hole to the inflatable hole and glue it, and the mattress is like new !!!

Andrew, http://mattrasik.ru/remont-matrasa/remont-naduvnyx-matrasov-intex/

From my:

1. Quickly blow off the mattress with a vacuum cleaner.
2. Blowing away while jumping and running around the mattress is almost hopeless, but the chances of damaging the mattress are even higher, so just let the mattress deflate under its own weight, you can lay a cotton mattress on top, for example, over the entire area, this will slightly speed up the process.
3. For INTEX mattresses with a fleecy surface, it is optimal to remove the fleece before gluing with acetone, it is cleaned off normally with a cotton swab or disk, and only then work with such a surface.
4. INTEX mattresses have a sore spot - this is a valve, so not always letting air out is a puncture result, the valve is checked with soap and water as well, but do not check the valve of the built-in pump or dry it thoroughly before turning it on.

Eugene, http://sekret-mastera.ru/bez-rubriki/kak-zakleit-naduvnoj-matrac.html

We punched the mattress in nature, the repair kit really helped out. In the evening they put a patch on it, pumped it up in the morning, there are no questions. I tried to tear the patch from the edge (try to hold it) - it did not work. Holds the class !!!

Oleg, http://best-intex.com.ua/poduschki-podgolovniki-aksessuary-/16-remkomplekt-intex-59632-dlya-izdeliy-iz-pvh.html