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Folding your air mattress is actually not a difficult task. You can fold the mattress yourself, but like all other things in life, it’s easier when you have company. First, you need to release all air and fold it a couple of times and/or roll it up. If you’re doing it well enough, it may even fit the original box. However, there are some extra steps to consider if you want to pack up the mattress and store it away.
Here’s How to Fold an Air Mattress Easily
You’ve inflated the mattress, slept on it for a while, and now it’s time to store it away.
Why even care about how to fold an air mattress when you can just crumple it up and stuff it in a bag? Here’s why – improper handling of air mattresses causes air leaks, broken seams, or other types of damage that’ll result in unintended deflation.
First, make sure you’re not in a hurry or a ‘panicky’ mode – you should take your time and do everything slowly and without rushing. Follow the steps below to correctly fold an air mattress.
Step 1: Deflate the Air Mattress
The deflation process is generally easy. First, lay your mattress on a flat surface (with no objects under it) and without any bedding on top.
Most air mattresses have one valve specifically made to release air. Even if yours doesn’t, locate and open the valve and let the mattress deflating begin.
If your mattress has an electric pump that can deflate it such as an Intex air mattress, take the power cord and insert it in a socket. On the control dial, choose deflation mode and turn the pump on – the mattress will start deflating. As soon as the bed is completely deflated, turn the it off. Now return the control settings to inflation so that you have the correct setting ready for the next time. Take the cord out of the socket and put it back in the cord compartment.
Step 2: Get the Mattress Ready for Folding
Just a reminder – you’re doing all this on a completely flat surface, preferably floor, free of sharp objects. Remove any hand jewelry while working.
If you’re camping, find a flat place and inspect the ground. Remove any pebbles, pinecones, branches, etc. Ideally, put a large plastic sheet on the ground to additionally protect the air mattress. Make sure there’s no dirt on the air mattress.
Ok, you’ve managed to deflate your air mattress, but it’s still not perfect. There’s some air inside here and there. Use your hands to iron out all the creases and make it completely flat, so there’s no air left.
Step 3: Fold the Air Mattress
If you want to return the mattress to the original package, you should remember how exactly it was packed up – was it just folded or also rolled? In fact, returning it to the original way of folding will keep your air mattress in great shape for a long time and take much less space.
Fold & roll: One way to fold an air mattress is to first fold it in half lengthwise. Make sure all the edges are matching perfectly and then flatten the folded mattress once again. Now roll it up slowly, from one side to the other, making sure it’s tight.
Fold only: Also start by folding in half lengthwise and flattening out, and then fold into neat squares. It’ll probably take two foldings.
Roll-up: The easiest way is to just fold the air mattress from one end to the other. You can secure it with straps and put it in a storage sack. It’ll take more space, but it’s quite easy to unroll and use again.
Intex mattresses: These air mattresses have a big chunk of boxed equipment on the leg side, so you should fold it in a way that will leave all that electric stuff peaking out, and not tucked into the middle. First, depending on the size, fold once or twice lengthwise. Make sure the pump is in the middle. Then take the other side and fold it twice or roll it up. That’s it!
How to Store an Air Mattress Properly
Once you’re done with deflating and folding, you should put the air mattress in a storage bag. You’ve probably received some kind of sack that serves both for storage and as a carrying bag. If you don’t have it, find a sack made of strong materials that can protect it well. It can be a thick plastic bag, for example.
Now put the wrap in the original box or a thick cardboard box and secure it with duct tape. Or, better yet, use a well-built plastic storage container. This is not necessary if you’re going to keep it on a shelf in a room with a relatively stable room temperature.
However, you should definitely avoid storing the air mattress directly on a floor if there’s any chance of leaks, floods, or if someone’s likely to stack other items on top of the mattress itself. It’s ok to put things on top if the air mattress is in a sturdy container.
Store It in a Desirable Place
Inspect your storage room. Ideally, it shouldn’t be wet or humid and the temperature shouldn’t fluctuate too much. Some places have winter temperatures around zero and summer temperatures around 110°F. That could be way too much for an air bed made of plastic-based materials like vinyl and PVC, so don’t keep it in a garage with a bad door unless you want a damaged air mattress.
If you’ve decided to go with storing a mattress without a container, put it away from any pointy edges or items that might fall on it and damage it, but also bear in mind that no container means less protection.
Bottom Line
How to fold an air mattress isn’t a science. First, deflate the mattress on an even, clear surface by removing a plug and opening the valve. The next step is to prepare the air mattress by pushing out extra air and evening out the mattress surface.
Then fold the mattress. Ideally, fold it the way it was when you bought it. Some of them were folded in half and then rolled up, and some were folded into squares. Alternatively, you can just roll it up if your model allows it. If you have an Intex air mattress, make sure the plastic box with the electric components is on the outside of the folded mattress.
Put the mattress in a carrying bag or a storage sack and then leave it in a sturdy storage container. Air beds or air mattresses should be stored in a dry room with some temperature regulation.
Follow this process and your inflatable mattress will be good as new and you’ll sleep on it like a baby for a long time to come!
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