How To Repair A Hole In An Air Mattress

At some point in your camping excursions, you're going to need to know how to repair a hole in an air mattress. An air mattress can be a camper's best friend, providing a soft place where campers can sleep suspended from the bumps of the hard ground. Keeping your air mattress free from punctures and seam separation is important to keeping you from needing to replace them constantly.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• Water
• Dish soap
• Towel
• Patch kit made for your mattress
• Super glue (optional)
• Clamps (optional)
• Air pump

1. Pump up the air mattress as much as possible to help to understand where to repair a hole in an air mattress.
2. Add a small amount of dish soap to a spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray the surface of the mattress thoroughly with the soapy water.
3. Press gently on the surface of the air mattress once it is saturated. Look for air bubbles to appear on the surface where the hole appears. Pay special attention to the seams, as that's where a hole in an air mattress may appear.
4. Deflate the air mattress. It is easier to repair a hole in an air mattress when it is deflated.
5. Identify if the hole is in the seam or on the surface of the mattress. If it is on the surface of the mattress, dry the area around the hole in the air mattress and apply the patch kit per the instructions on the package.
6. If the hole is in the seam, dry the seam thoroughly and apply a few drops of the super glue to the seam. Affix with a clamp and allow to dry for at least an hour.
7. Inflate the air mattress and check to ensure that the mattress is holding air. If not, start again from step three until all holes are found and addressed. Seams are difficult to repair, and may require repeated airings and repairs to ensure that the seam is fixed correctly.