How to Properly Fill a Soft Sided Waterbed

A soft-sided waterbed consists of a traditional vinyl waterbed mattress. Soft-sided waterbeds have foam side pieces, as opposed to the wooden frame of a hard-sided waterbed, and a fabric cover. The foam pieces and the cover make the mattress look more like a regular innerspring mattress. You can easily fill a soft-sided waterbed using a garden hose.

Towel
Faucet connector
Garden hose
Waterbed connector
Waterbed conditioner
Broom

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the fabric cover from the vinyl mattress, enough to expose the pop-up fill valve. Lay a clean towel next to the valve.
- 2
  Unscrew the aerator on your bathroom faucet and screw on the waterbed's faucet connector. Screw the threaded end of a garden hose into the faucet connector. Put the other end of the garden hose into the bathtub. Turn the water on for 10 minutes and let it run to clean out the hose. Pour the waterbed conditioner into the pop-up valve of the waterbed, according to the package directions.
- 3
  Screw on the waterbed connector to the loose end of the garden hose. Insert the waterbed connector into the pop-up fill valve. Wrap the valve with the towel you placed nearby to soak up any leaks. Turn the water back on and adjust it so it is lukewarm.
- 4
  Let the waterbed fill until the water level is 1/2 inch below the top of the foam sides. Turn off the water. Remove the waterbed connector from the fill valve.
- 5
  Lay a broomstick horizontally across the top of the bed. Press the handle firmly into the bed and pull it down the length of the bed. This will dislodge any air bubbles and they will escape out of the fill valve.
- 6
  Screw the fill valve closed and put on the cap. Replace the fabric mattress cover over the valve and zip it shut.

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