If you feel the mattress becoming soft, reinflate it before you start searching again. The higher the air pressure inside the mattress, the more noticeable the leak will be.
If the valve is damaged, then it’s better to replace the full mattress rather than trying to fix it.
Most punctures and tears happen on the bottom of your air mattress since something on the ground could easily poke through and cause a leak.
Try wetting the back of your hand before running it over your mattress. The escaping air will make the water feel cooler so the leak is easier to detect.
Work in small sections spraying and drying your mattress so you don’t have as much to clean up.
Avoid putting a patch on while your mattress is inflated since air could get underneath the patch and ruin the adhesion.
Be careful not to press too hard with your sandpaper since it could thin the mattress material and potentially create another hole. Most patch kits come with a small piece of sandpaper so you don’t need to buy it separately.
If you try applying the patch while your mattress is still wet, then it may not stick well and could come loose later on.
If you don’t have a patch kit, you can also cut a patch from a sturdy piece of plastic, such as a vinyl shower liner.
Follow the directions that came with your patch kit since they may vary. Be careful not to get any adhesive inside or on any other part of your mattress. Otherwise, it may make the sides of your mattress stick together and form new tears.
If you try inflating your mattress too soon, it could make the patch come loose.
If there’s still air leaking out from the patch, then it may not have adhered properly. You can try patching over it again, or it may be time to get a new air mattress.
The adhesive on the back of duct tape will start to break down after blowing up your mattress a few times, but it will at least stay inflated through a few nights of sleep. If your air mattress is still losing air after you cover the leak, then try putting another layer of duct tape over the hole.
Hot glue will start to crack and break down after you inflate your mattress a few times, so be sure to actually patch it as soon as you can. Avoid touching the tip of your glue gun against the mattress since it could melt the material or make another hole. Gluing your mattress or applying a DIY patch could potentially void the manufacturer’s warranty. Read through the warranty to see if you’re eligible for any replacements before you try a DIY method.
Super glue works best on pinholes and tiny punctures. If you have a bigger hole, you’re better off using duct tape or an actual patch.
