Can you wash air mattresses?

Inflatable mattresses are often used at home, not only in summer but also at any time of year, when, for example, guests arrive and extra sleeping space is needed. During the swimming season, an inflatable mattress can be used as a flotation device, which is very popular with both children and adults. Generally, such a mattress is quite stain-resistant, but if the stains are so stubborn that only washing can remove them, the question arises: can you machine wash an inflatable mattress?

Is it okay to put a mattress in the washing machine?

Modern technology makes it possible to machine wash almost anything, so some people may mistakenly believe that with due care, washing an air mattress in the washing machine is perfectly acceptable. In fact, this is not true. To ensure the material's integrity, the mattress must be cleaned exclusively by hand.

The first reason is that during washing, the internal membranes that give the mattress its elasticity can be damaged by the drum walls. Then, the mattress will no longer be able to perform its intended function.

The same applies to the surface itself. It's easy to get caught on something inside the drum. Even if the mattress doesn't tear right away, the resulting microcracks will likely eventually develop into full-blown holes, and the mattress will begin to leak air and deflate. Finally, detergents contain chemicals that destroy the structure of the material, although not immediately. If the active ingredients penetrate into the cracks, they gradually destroy them.

Effective cleaning without washing

Many people don't even understand why they need to clean a mattress. After all, the material is usually dark, dirt doesn't show, and small debris can be washed away with plain water. In fact, hygiene rules apply here too. Regardless of whether you use the mattress exclusively at home or take it outdoors (to the seaside or to your dacha), it's essential to clean it at least once every six months.

To remove stains, you may need cleaning products that do not contain active chemicals.

• Shampoo.
• Hydrogen peroxide.
• A mixture of salt and vinegar.
• Soft powder.

It's best to clean the material immediately after stains appear. Waiting to let the stains set in will make removing them much more difficult. However, if you do everything right away, there won't be any problems.

How are we going to remove the stains?

Returning to the question of washing a mattress with plain water, it's worth noting that this is certainly possible. It won't cause any harm to the mattress, but its effectiveness is practically zero. It's best to clean the mattress as follows:

Small stains can be easily removed with a solution of laundry soap. Take a small bar of soap and grate it into half a liter of water. Dip a sponge into the resulting mixture and vigorously rub the stain. Continue treating the stain with the solution until it is completely removed. An excellent method for removing stains, and it also costs a penny.

If the stain is fresh, it's best to remove it immediately with a powder solution. Create a foam from the solution and apply it generously to the stain, then rub it into the surface of the item. Rinse off with running water and let dry.

Caution! Drying the material in the sun is strictly not recommended. Although air mattresses are regularly exposed to sunlight, leaving the product in the heat for several hours without movement is a sure way to deteriorate the material's structure.

For stubborn stains, use salt and lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the stain and let it sit for a few hours to allow the reaction to occur. Then rinse with a damp sponge and dry the item.

You can remove blood or coffee stains with hydrogen peroxide. Soak a towel in it and apply it to the stain until the towel has removed as much of the pigment as possible. Once the stain turns light brown, you can remove it with a soapy solution. Then, simply rinse the mattress, dry it, and reuse it.

   

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