Air Bed Cleaning and Maintenance

It'll save you money

Although today's air beds are made of high-quality materials designed to last a lifetime, it's a good idea to routinely check the bed for signs of wear. By catching these problems quickly, you can avoid a much costlier repair further down the road.

Before doing any cleaning or maintenance of your own, refer to the manufacturer's instruction manual to see if there are any specific directions that need to be followed. Since there are so many different models of air beds on the market, there are specific procedures that need to be followed for each kind. Following is a brief guide to the proper cleaning and maintenance of your new air bed.

Air bed cleaning

Every few months, you should clean the surface of your air bed to keep it looking like new. This can be done by deflating the unit and spreading it out over a large table or clean floor.

Next, mix a solution of water and your favorite non-abrasive, mild cleaning agent in a container. Use a damp towel or washcloth to gently clean all areas of the air bed, doing so with a slow, circular motion. After you have cleaned your air bed, use a separate cloth to rinse the surface of the air bed with plain water so there is no soapy film.

After you are done cleaning, use a lint-free cloth to dry any wet areas. You can finish drying your air bed by hanging it indoors, or flipping it over if you've left it on the floor.

Air bed maintenance

Every two months or as needed, you should inspect your air bed for maintenance. Even though air beds are made from durable, puncture-resistant materials, it's not impossible for a small hole appear after extended use.

You can check your air bed for tears or holes in a number of ways. First, you can visually inspect the air bed when it's inflated. And obviously, if the air bed is losing air, it probably has a small leak.

Another way to check your air bed for leaks is to take all the sheets and covers off, and have someone lay on the air bed while you listen for a hissing sound. This is an effective way to locate a leak if you know there is one, but can't visually find it.

There are a variety of stop-leak kits on the market. You should first check with your air bed manufacturer, to see if leaks are covered in the warranty. If not, many air bed manufacturers will have small kits that can easily be used to patch leaks.

More information on Air Beds