You’ve set camp in the woods after a long day of trekking. Now it’s time to set the bed. You get out your air mattress, but then you find a leak! It’s one of the worst experiences.
How do you patch such punctures? You need to seal the punctures before you can inflate the mattress and relax.
Well, if you have duct tape you can easily overcome this problem. But the question is, how to patch an air mattress with duct tape? You can patch an air mattress by first locating the leak, cleaning the area around the leaking, and placing duct tape around it. Once done, try inflating the mattress to see if the leak is completely sealed.
In this post, I’ll guide you on how to fix a leaking air mattress with duct tape as you search for a permanent solution.
Keep reading to learn DIY hacks for patching an air mattress.
Materials Needed To Patch An Air Mattress
Patching an air mattress with a duct tape does require a few materials. You need to start by preparing necessary materials.
Luckily enough, most of the items you’ll need are readily available. Below are the materials you’ll need to find the leak and cover it.
Materials for finding the hole
- Soapy water
- A sponge
- Towels
- Clean water
- A marker pen
Materials for covering the hole
- A duct tape
- Superglue
- Scissors
- Heavy objects
Step To Follow When Patching An Air Mattress
Duct tape is only a temporary solution when you get a leak on your mattress. But if the hole is tiny then duct tape is going to be a lifesaver. Let’s go straight to the steps that will help when fixing an air mattress using duct tape.
1. Find The Leaking Spot In An Air Mattress
To some people finding tiny leaking spots can be a bit stressful but to some, it’s not. There are two ways to identify the spots that are leaking one method is to use soapy water, and the other method is to inflate the mattress and listen for a hissing sound.
Using soapy water: when using this method make sure you’ve mixed water and any kind of soap that will form bubbles. Once you are all set, use a sponge dipped in the solution and smear it all around the mattress and check for bubbles.
Listen for a hissing sound: make sure your air mattress is inflated properly. After inflating the mattress, get close to the mattress and move around the mattress listening for a hissing sound.
After you’ve found the leaks it is advisable to always mark the areas using a marker pen to avoid losing the position.
2. Clean The Leaking Area
If you used soapy water to identify the leak, it is important to clean the leaking area using a clean wet cloth. Since any soapy solution tampers with the effectiveness of the duct tape.
Use a dry cloth to get rid of the wetness on the surface of the mattress, you can also use a hairdryer to fasten the process. After you’re done drying the mattress, let it air dry for two to three hours to make sure the mattress is completely dry.
3. Cover The Area Using A Duct Tape
Once the area has dried, deflate the mattress and find the marked areas where the leaks are. Cut the duct tape two times bigger than the hole on the mattress and place it in the hole. You can do this using scissors or a blade.
It is also advisable to apply duct tape on either side of the area surrounding the hole. To avoid air from creating other channels coming out, make sure you’ve flattened the tape using your fingertips to avoid air bubbles.
When using additional glue Epoxy glue and Rubber cement are the best for long-lasting results.
Place either of the glues mentioned over the hole and let it dry completely, then cut the duct tape and press it in the hole.
For better results, wait for a few hours for the glue to dry. As you wait, put pressure on the area where there were leaks. Put heavy books or any other heavy objects.
Unless the glue is dry DO NOT inflate the mattress.
4. Inflate The Air Mattress To Check For Leaks
Once the glue has dried, inflate the mattress then place the right ear to the area where the hole was and listen for any hissing sounds.
The other test is that once you’ve inflated the air mattress, you can sleep on it for two to three hours. Better yet if you love reading novels, then read your novel while testing the air mattress.
If you notice the mattress hasn’t deflated then you’re good to go. But if the mattress deflates then it’s time to order a new air mattress or get a permanent patch.
Other Alternatives To Patch An Air Mattress
Apart from using duct tape, there are various methods one can use to patch an air mattress.
- Hot Glue Gun: Hot glue gun can help, although for a few days. It’s an effective method for small holes that don’t require patching.
- Seal using Marine Goop Glue: Marine Goop Glue is UV-resistant and waterproof, therefore, a good sealant. Sand the area with a leak and apply an even seal. Let it dry for a day for the glue to seal permanently.
- Gel Nail Polish: Using gel nail polish does require a few things. You need UV light to trigger the polymerization of the nail polish. However, it is effective and creates a tight seal. You need to cover the leak with a piece of shower curtain before applying the gel finish.
- Do a DIY patch: Lastly, you can patch the entire torn area using a sewing machine. This is done using a thin rubber or plastic material. Apply glue to the torn area and spread the rubber or plastic material while pressing down. You can then leave the mattress to dry overnight.
- Apply Superglue: Superglue does work for small holes where two edges need to adhere together. It is a great way to patch punctures when you need to use the air mattress right away.
Read Also: How to Patch an Air Mattress with Super Glue?
Conclusion
Duct tape is very helpful when it comes to solving tiny leaks on air mattresses and if you know how to patch an air mattress with duct tape then it’s a matter of a minute for you. It is also very important to note that when cleaning the air mattresses, we should clean the area using a clean cloth.
Using Paper towels and tissues is not advised. Fiber left on the surfaces will cause adherence problems. The glue on the tape will not stick nicely as the mattress dries.
I hope this article helps.
