5 ways to seal an air mattress at home

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A mattress is a soft bed base that can be with or without a frame. It comes in several types, but in everyday life, only two are most often used - spring and stuffed. In our article we will talk specifically about spring types, which, in turn, are divided into two types.

• With a continuous weave of springs called Bonnell
• With independent blocks of springs, which are considered orthopedic

The first type is more common. It is inexpensive, so it is very popular. The second type has greater capabilities, but is also more expensive. In any case, the subject of discussion consists of a spring block or shock-absorbing parts, a hard layer, a cover and a filler. The latter can be both soft and hard. As for the covering, it is better that it be made of natural fabric.

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:

1. Piercing or cutting the surface of the mattress;
2. Rupture of partitions inside the structure;
3. 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.

Repair of mattresses with spring blocks

The service life of spring mattresses is 8–15 years. But sooner or later the question of replacing or repairing it arises. In some cases, it is preferable to repair the mattress and save 30–40 percent of its cost. What is mattress repair?

Over time, the highest quality mattress loses its properties - dips appear, springs burst, shape changes, the covering fabric becomes frayed and dirty.

In this case, there are two ways - buying a new mattress or repairing the old one.

The easiest way is to contact a mattress reupholstery workshop, where specialists will carry out a comprehensive repair of your product, replace the entire spring block, or, if there are only a few damaged springs, replace individual elements. A mattress that has undergone high-quality repairs in a workshop is not inferior in its properties to a newly purchased one.

How to look for a damaged area

Identifying a hole in an air mattress at home can be difficult. After all, the puncture site may be in the most unremarkable part of the structure, which the owner does not even think about. To identify damage, one of the existing inspection methods should be used.

Sound of air escaping

First, you need to inflate the mattress as tightly as possible, and then ensure complete silence in the room. When you bring the product close to your ear, you should listen to see if any hissing sounds appear. If they are present, it means the mattress has been damaged. To determine exactly where this happened, it is important to carefully examine the entire area, as well as listen to the valve separately.

Immersion in water

The inflated mattress must be immersed in a container of water. Air bubbles will appear at the cut site, which will indicate the cause and location of the damage. When checking a surface, it is necessary to inspect it from all sides. If there is no access to open water, the procedure can be carried out in a regular bathroom. However, even 1-bed models have difficulty fitting into such tanks, and piecemeal testing may not be accurate enough.

Soapy solution

The mattress is carefully inflated and then treated with a sponge dipped in soapy water. Foam should be applied to the potential cut site. If there is a hole, bubbles will come out of it. Using this method, you can check the entire surface of the mattress. Liquid soap, shampoo or dishwashing detergent is used as the key substance for the foam solution. However, it is better to avoid washing powder, because... it consists of coarse particles that can damage the surface of the product.

Shaving foam

It is necessary to inflate the mattress tightly and treat the valve with shaving foam. If there is a puncture, bubbles will appear in the treated area. This technique is especially effective when checking valves for loss of tightness.

Starch

You can check the product using starch. The substance is scattered over the entire area, and if there is a puncture, a so-called “cloud” appears. After carrying out the above steps, the mattress needs to be vacuumed.

Cling film

The surface of the inflated mattress must be moistened with a spray bottle and then covered with cling film. At the puncture site, air will begin to collect under the film.

Liquid filling

A popular way to check a mattress for punctures is to fill it with liquid. It is necessary to pour several liters of water into the mattress, pump it up and start twisting so that the water is evenly distributed over the inner surface. Then you should inspect the mattress on both sides. If there is a puncture, a wet spot will appear on the velor surface, and liquid will appear on the smooth surface.

How the mattress works

A mattress with dependent springs consists of a metal frame on which springs are installed, rigidly fastened together and forming a single block.

The structure of a mattress with dependent springs

The most common is the Bonnell spring unit, invented more than 150 years ago, which contains from 120 to 160 springs per square meter. The spring consists of coils of different diameters - maximum at the edges and tapering towards the center. Thanks to this, they do not rub against each other and do not make increased noise.

Mattress based on Bonnell dependent spring block

The most common are five-turn steel springs made of hardened wire; four-turn springs are less commonly used. Dependent spring blocks are used in the production of upholstered furniture - sofas, ottomans, and are also produced for the production of mattresses for beds.

This block system consists of spring elements of a special cone shape, which are fastened together with a spiral wire made of hard carbon steel

This type of mattress is still in great demand among buyers due to its practicality and durability. The cost of this product is 30–40 percent lower than independent spring mattresses.

In a mattress with independent springs, which are called orthopedic, the springs are in covers made of non-woven material, which are glued together into a single block.

Bed mattress based on an independent spring block

With this scheme, the load is distributed more evenly, which allows the body to take a natural position when sleeping.

In this system, each spring element in the shape of a cylinder or “barrel” is located in its own special case made of thick fabric or elastic materials

An orthopedic mattress prevents the occurrence of back diseases, the sleeper’s blood circulation is not impaired, and a person wakes up in the morning rested, without pain.

Independent spring block for orthopedic mattresses

The greater the number of springs used per square meter, the more pronounced the orthopedic effect.

There are 3 types of hardness:

• high, recommended for weights over 95 kg;
• average, weight from 60 to 95 kg;
• soft, weight up to 60 kg.

According to the number of springs, mattresses are divided into:

• multipack TFK, with 250 springs. per square meter;
• multipack S 1000–500 pcs.;
• multipack S 2000– 1000 pcs.

Types of springs for independent blocks

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Preparing the necessary tools and materials

Many models of Intex air mattresses come with a ready-made repair kit. It consists of a special adhesive, vinyl, and step-by-step instructions for use. A basic repair kit is enough to fill two or three holes. If there are no patches, but the glue remains, you should not throw it away, because... it can be stored for up to two years and will become useful in the future.

What can a patch be made from?

If there were no repair tools included with the air mattress, you can make a patch yourself. For this purpose, small pieces of thin rubber or cotton fabric are used. The latter option is pre-treated with rubber glue.

Cutting out a patch

When cutting out a new patch, you need to make sure that it is 2-3 centimeters larger than the size of the puncture. It is also recommended to use oval or round shaped products, and degrease them with alcohol or gasoline before gluing.

What is a spring mattress made of?

Composition of a mattress with a Bonnell spring block
The mattress consists of the following elements:

• spring block;
• an underlying layer of non-woven material or burlap;
• sealing layer, materials used – heat-pressed felt, coconut coir, polyurethane foam (foam rubber), struttofiber, latex, highly elastic foam;
• The top layer is a cover, made of natural fabrics - linen, cotton.

Glue selection

When wondering how to seal a hole in an air mattress, you need to choose the right glue. Due to the wide variety of such compositions, finding the right option can be problematic. Experts advise giving preference to rubber and universal types, as well as special glue for PVC. The key requirement for consistency is the formation of a durable, waterproof and elastic layer after processing.

Glue "Moment universal"

It is considered a popular product, which is characterized by highly reliable adhesion to almost any surface. It is used to join rubber, PVC, plastic and fabric. Before processing, the product and patches are degreased, after which the working surface is lubricated with glue and pressed for 15 minutes. The mattress can be used within a day.

Polyurethane shoe glue

This composition is widely used in the shoe industry, but can also be useful for restoring a punctured mattress. Due to its excellent properties and high quality, it firmly adheres to two surfaces, preventing further damage. Shoe glue is applied only to cleaned and dried material.

PVC glue

Many models of air mattresses are made of polyvinyl chloride, so to repair them you have to use a special PVC glue. They treat both the damage site and the patch itself. After the first layer has dried, another one is applied. After a quarter of an hour, you need to apply the patch and press it.

Glue "Super-moment"

Specialized adhesives are used for serious punctures, when it is necessary to restore the integrity of a seam or a large area of ​​the mattress. But some series may contain aggressive substances that can cause damage to the surface. Also, Super Moment glue creates a hard seam that can crumble when bent.

Natural rubber rubber adhesive

It is characterized by a natural composition and the ability to create an elastic seam without visible stains. The solution is applied in two layers, allowing each layer to dry. When gluing surfaces, it is necessary to exert considerable effort, so any weight is placed on the patch and left there for 25 hours.

Air mattress repair kit (repair kit)

Many air mattresses come with ready-made adhesive compositions. They are designed for a specific material, so they are the best option. If after several repairs the adhesive has been exhausted, it is recommended to find similar products in the store.

Other adhesives

If your home workshop does not have the necessary glue to seal the hole, you can use simple tricks. Some craftsmen take pieces of PVC and thoroughly soak them in solvent. After this treatment, the plastic stretches well and acquires a number of qualities that make it no worse than store-bought glue. As an example of such a composition, acetone and a plastic bottle are considered.

Fastening

The stage that requires the most effort and time. It includes several steps:

• checking the serviceability of parts;
• frame installation;
• spring binding.

First, remove the cord connecting the springs and remove the nails from the frame. Then you need to inspect the springs and return them to their original position. Broken parts are thrown away and new ones are installed. To do this, the springs are nailed to the slats using nails that are bent inward. It is first recommended to make precise markings on the body of the product.

It should be taken into account that in orthopedic mattresses the individual springs are located in special bags

. And in conventional ones there are three methods of fastening:

• using wooden slats. Sometimes it is enough to simply hammer a loose part;
• the use of fabric straps over wooden slats;
• fabric belts. They give the mattress orthopedic properties.

If fabric straps were used in the manufacture of the mattress, you will need to cut out the wooden slats yourself. Elastic fabric straps are attached to them. The length of the slats should correspond to the width of the mattress.

To replace the spring bag in orthopedic models, you will need an element with new springs. It is sewn in using a regular needle and strong thread.

Harness

After checking and securing the springs, the strapping process is carried out. For this purpose you will need a strong rope (diameter about 3 cm). First, take nails and drive them opposite a separate spring row. Then the nails are bent to create peculiar hooks. The cord will be wound around them.

First of all, you need to deal with tying the transverse springs. Each spring is processed separately with a cord. Then they begin to tie the elements in the longitudinal direction. For efficiency reasons, they are fastened with transverse ones.

Finally, the springs are processed diagonally. The angle with respect to the previous harnesses should be 45 degrees. At the end of this work, the nails left by the hooks are completely bent.

Other repair options

In some cases, sealing the hole in the mattress does not solve the problem, so you have to resort to other repair options. They are selected depending on the cause and nature of the damage.

If the seam comes apart

If the seam has been damaged during the use of the mattress, using a patch on the outside will be ineffective, even if you take into account all the subtleties of gluing.
To successfully restore the product, you will have to use some tricks and seal it from the inside. First of all, you should pull the damaged area through the valve hole, and then fix the patch with glue. The structure can be turned back only a day after the composition has dried.

Method without glue

If there is no glue in the house, you will have to fix the defect in another way. To do this, you may need an iron, paper, and a flat wooden surface. First of all, you need to turn the mattress out through the valve hole, clean the surface from dirt, and then align the edges of the tear and fix it on the backing. Next, the soldering area is covered with paper and processed with a hot iron. After the paper has cooled, you can remove it and turn the mattress back inside out.

Method with “Liquid Patch”

To implement the procedure, you will need a special composition called “Liquid Patch”. You can buy it at an inflatable store. If the diameter of the damage does not exceed 3 cm, there is no need to use additional gluing methods. If there are larger damages, you will have to use regular thread.

If the valve leaks

The cause of an air leak may not be damage to the rubber sheet or seam, but a loss of valve tightness. But even such a defect can be easily solved at home. To do this, you need to unscrew the valve and clear its grooves of debris, remove the gasket and clean the end part of the valve with sandpaper. After thoroughly lubricating the valve, the structure must be placed back, and then the mattress must be inflated. A soap solution is also applied to the surface, which is necessary to check the tightness.

Methods without a patch

It is possible to repair an air mattress without a patch using heat or special adhesives that do not require material to cover the puncture. It is proposed to use three effective methods.

1. "Liquid patch." A special product helps cope with punctures and damage up to 3 cm in diameter. The product has a fairly wide range of colors, which allows you to choose the shade to match your mattress. Apply the patch in liquid form to a smooth, degreased and cleaned surface in an even layer. You should cover an area wider than the puncture site by a couple of centimeters on all sides. After drying (ten minutes), apply a second layer and leave for a day.
2. Warming up with high temperature. The method is well suited for fastening seams. Also pull out the break point through the valve hole, clean and degrease. Having aligned the torn edges, place it on a flat surface and cover with newspaper sheets. Gently run the iron preheated to medium temperature several times. Cool the structure, remove the newspaper and turn the mattress inside out.
3. Valve repair. Often the problem lies in the valve. It can be repaired without glue, using abrasive and silicone grease. First, unscrew and clean the valve. Disconnect the rubber gasket and go over the end of the valve with sandpaper. Lubricate with silicone grease, insert the gasket and screw the structure back. Be sure to inflate the product to check the operation of the valve. If air is still passing through, contact support.

Most often, punctures occur in nature, therefore, in order not to heat the edges of the cut over an open fire, risking the integrity of the product, it is recommended to stock up on a repair kit. A tube of glue and pieces of PVC will not take up much space in your backpack. It is also recommended to sew a special cover from durable fabric for the mattress in the inflated state.

Methods that describe in detail how to seal a hole in an air mattress will help restore the integrity of the PVC product. In order not to have to resort to them often, you should follow the recommendations for the care and storage of your sleeping place. It is better not to try to fix large punctures (3-5 cm in diameter) on your own, but to contact a specialist. They can help you at a service center or shoe workshop.

Video on the topic

How to seal a velor surface at home

If damage occurs on the side of the velor surface, you will have to clean the area using a cotton pad soaked in acetone, as well as the blunt side of a knife.
But when performing such manipulations, you should be careful, otherwise you can create additional holes. Then the surfaces to be joined are cleaned with sandpaper and treated with a degreasing compound. In order not to spoil the appearance of the mattress, it is better to glue it from the inside, because it is, in most cases, smooth.

Products using springs

Spring models are easy to make. It is worth using purchased springs. It’s easy to choose them by asking the store for special materials for making furniture. If you do everything correctly, you will get an orthopedic mattress with your own hands. Sometimes it is enough to use springs from an old mattress or sofa and make new upholstery. It is recommended to use foam rubber. It’s easier to create an orthopedic mattress with your own hands if you have:

• Spring mechanisms;
• Dense material;
• Foam rubber.

To make your own mattress you will also need twine. They need to tie the springs tightly together. Afterwards, display your structure and place it under the bottom of the slats. Pin. Spring structures add density to the product. Afterwards you need to use filler. Pull the cover on top. Do-it-yourself orthopedic mattress is ready.

So, to make a mattress with your own hands, you don’t need to make a huge effort

But it is important to be able to cut the material by making the correct measurements. It is necessary that the density of the foam rubber be high

Spring designs are also popular, but their manufacture will require more time, skill and material. An orthopedic option that is suitable for any person will be more convenient.

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.

How to extend the life of a mattress

It is clear that one mattress is unlikely to last you a lifetime. Over time, it will still need repairs. But we note that the moment when there is nowhere to go can be delayed for a very decent period. To do this, you need to use this piece of furniture with the utmost care. Try to avoid situations that could damage it.

1. You need to buy a mattress according to your weight
2. Don't let children jump on the bed\
3. Never eat or drink while lying on the bed
4. Be sure to let the item dry and ventilate in the fresh air at least once a year.
5. The mattress should only be placed in the places intended for it
6. To prevent the decorative covering of the mattress from getting dirty, use additional removable covers

If you carefully follow all these simple rules of operation, then your mattress will serve you for many years, and its repair will not be needed very soon. This is a guarantee that your sleep will be healthy and sound.

The article was prepared with the help of specialists from the Sleep Laboratory. Website: https://sleep-lab.ru/ - Online mattress store.

Video. Spring mattress repair

Sheathing of the product

The final stage of repair is reupholstering the mattress with outer upholstery. To do this, first cover the spring block with a lining. The material must be dense, for example, tarpaulin (burlap or dermantin is also suitable). So, the lining base is placed on top of the spring block and secured with it with a regular stapler.

Then take a sealant (foam rubber, padding polyester). These rollers are placed on the lining in selected places. This ensures high-quality styling. The top of the mattress product should be covered with decorative fabric, and the edges of the upholstery should be carefully tucked inward.