How to Use a Vinyl Repair Kit on a Mattress

Camping can be as primitive or luxurious as you choose.

An air mattress is a portable creature comfort that is lightweight and adds much comfort at your campsite. Along with a sleeping bag, the air mattress will give you a good night's sleep when you would otherwise be sleeping on bare ground. The portability and lightweight construction have a downfall. The thin plastic bag that inflates to become your mattress can be easily punctured by objects on the ground, as well as those in your pack where you carry the mattress to the campsite. Patching the leaking air mattress requires only a couple of minutes, the right tools and a few tips.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle filled with soapy water
• Leaking air mattress
• Clean, dry rags
• Marker
• Vinyl patch
• Vinyl patch adhesive

Instructions

1. Completely fill the air mattress with air. Spray the entire mattress with soapy water from your spray bottle. Watch for bubbles being formed by the escaping air. Wipe the area of the leak clean with a dry rag and circle the puncture with your marker.

2. Deflate the air mattress completely. Clean the puncture areas thoroughly with soapy water and a rag.

3. Place glue around the puncture area. Allow the glue to become tacky. Press the patch over the hole and press down for 60 seconds to allow the patch to bond with the glue.

4. Let the glue cure for 12-15 hours before refilling the mattress with air and using it for sleep. Check the patch before use by spraying soapy water onto it and watching for bubbles caused by escaping air.

References

• HowToCleanAMattress.org: How to Repair an Air Mattress