Caring for Your Double Air Bed

A double air bed is really quite similar to a double air mattress, but instead of being one air chamber thick, the air bed usually has a double thickness air chamber, putting the sleeper higher up off the ground, and making it easier for people with mobility issues to get out of bed while camping. Taking care of one of these beds is just about the same as taking care of a regular air mattress.

One of the things you should do to keep the life of your double air bed longer is to never over inflate it. Yes, some people like to have a bed that is a little firmer, but over inflation can stretch the materials and burst the seams, no matter how thick the material is or how good the seams are welded.

Today most of these air beds come standard with an air mattress pump. Fill the mattress up with air to just about full and then stop. Lay down on it and if you need some more air, then add a little at a time until is it at your desired comfort level. If it looks like it's bursting at the seams, or the surface is really shiny then you have overfilled it and need to let out some air right away.

There are other ways to extend the life of your double air bed as well. Even though you may be laying it down on the floor of your tent and have a basic barrier between the mattress and the actual ground, this is sometimes not enough. Sharp rocks cans still poke up through the tent floor and damage the bed, especially when being used and the extra weight can cause problems. Some grasses like sharp razor grass can work its way through even the thickest of tent floors.

Laying a tarp down first can help to prevent damage to the air bed. When you are lying on the bed itself, you should always put a sheet on the mattress before putting down the sleeping bags. Exposed mattresses can get scratched by zippers, and rough spots on your sleeping bags.

There are many different opinions on how to actually clean your double air bed. Here is a one way that can be used for just about any air bed or mattress you may have. The first thing to do is to remove the sheets from the bed itself.

Also use the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove any surface debris. If you are out camping and don't have access to a vacuum then tip the mattress gently on its side and tap the back lightly until the debris fall off. Using a damp cloth and some mild soapy water, wipe the entire surface of the bed off. Some people suggest that rubbing alcohol works really good and maybe so, but it could also overly dry out some materials, making them very brittle.

Allow your double air bed to dry out completely before putting the sheets and coverings back on. If your bead has dimples or pockets in the top, then use an absorbent cloth to wipe up this extra water. When you are getting ready to take down your air bed and store it away, make sure there isn't any dirt and moisture on the bed itself, and that you are storing the unit in a cool dry place with no chance of getting the bed wet.

When it is time to use your double air bed again, look for signs of mildew or damage before you try to inflate it. For safety reason you should also only inflate your bed in an open area.