How to Repair a Vinyl Mattress

Vinyl Waterbed Mattress

• 1

  Find the leak in the mattress if you don’t know where the puncture is located. The British Waterbed Association website recommends kneeling in the center of the mattress and watching for the water to ooze out.

• 2

  Dry off the mattress by gently wiping it with a dry towel. Try not to push too hard, which may cause additional water to leak out.

• 3

  Trim a patch from the vinyl large enough to cover the area with 1/2 inch of extra vinyl around each side. Use the patch that came with waterbed mattress if you still have it. Round the corners off to create a smoother patch.

• 4

  Spread patch adhesive around the puncture in the mattress. Allow the adhesive to dry, which creates a rough surface that the next round of adhesive can cling to more effectively. Cover the patch in the adhesive and put more adhesive on the bed around the puncture.

• 5

  Press the patch to the wet adhesive. Hold the patch in place for 30 seconds to a minute and then add more glue along the sides and the top of the patch.

• 6

  Leave the mattress uncovered and allow the patch to dry for at least 30 minutes. Dry all the water off the bed before returning your sheets and covers to the mattress.

Air Mattress

• 7

  Find the leak in the air mattress if you don’t know the leak’s location. A simple way to find the leak is to fill the mattress with air and move around the mattress, pressing down on it with one hand and feeling with your other hand for air.

• 8

  Clean the air mattress around the puncture. MadeManual recommends cleaning the area with rubbing alcohol.

• 9

  Trim a piece of vinyl so that it fits over the puncture in the mattress with a little space around the edges. Cut the corners so that they are curved instead of pointed.

• 10

  Create a surface for the patch by putting a layer of adhesive around the patch area and allowing it to dry. Once dry, add more adhesive to the surface of the mattress and to the patch and then press the patch against the puncture in the mattress.

• 11

  Hold the patch in place for 30 seconds to a minute. Allow the adhesive to dry for 30 minutes or more before using the air mattress.