Lack a pump for your new air mattress? Not to worry! Learn how you can blow up an air mattress no pump.
Blow Up an Air Mattress With No Pump
The best air mattress can be a must-have when you’re having family or friends over to spend the night, when you’re going camping, or even when you’re setting up your bedroom.
These handy sleeping surfaces can provide a comfortable place for resting while also being portable. An air mattress can typically compress into a fraction of its full size, making it very convenient for small living spaces and ready for travel. But how do you blow up an air mattress? Whether you’re working with a mattress-compatible pump or using the tools you have handy, it’s all about pushing air into the mattress — and keeping it from coming back out.
What’s an Air Mattress?
When someone mentions an air mattress, most people will call to mind an image of something inflatable. However, there’s a lot more to an air mattress than just being inflatable. Adjustable air mattresses are also available on the market, and these modern air mattresses are designed for much more than a quick setup.
Most air mattresses have a one-way air valve – which allows air to enter the mattress but not leave it — or a simple hole on the side. The first step to preparing an air mattress for sleep would be to locate its valve or hole and then figure out how to put air inside it. Some modern mattresses even have pumps built into them. In cases like this, you can simply flip the switch, and the mattress will start to inflate itself.
How Do You Inflate an Air Mattress No Pump?
However, it’s typical for a pump to not be available when you need to inflate an air mattress. Sometimes, it might be lost somewhere in your house, or maybe your air mattress doesn’t come with a pump.
Bike or Tire Pump
If you can’t find your air mattress pump, you can probably use other types of air pumps. Many standard bike and tire pumps can inflate an air mattress. However, getting a tight seal around the pump nozzle can sometimes be tricky. You may need to use a suitable adapter nozzle or make some significant changes to the pump’s existing nozzle with extra material to make it suitable for inflating your air mattress.
Hair Dryer
This is the most common household item you can use to inflate your air mattress. The best blow dryer can pump air into the mattress when you hold it against the open valve. However, because the hair dryer won’t fit perfectly into the mattress valve, this way of pumping air into the mattress will be slower than if you’d used a pump.
If your hair dryer has a cool setting, turn it on. Most air mattresses are made from vinyl or plastic, and hot air can cause these materials to deform or melt.
Vacuum Cleaner
Any sort of machine that can blow air can conceivably be used to inflate an air mattress. Apart from an electric hair dryer, you can try using your vacuum cleaner. Many of these cleaning accessories have a “blow” function in addition to the typical “suck” function. Again, all you need to do is hold the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner up to the mattress valve to inflate it.
Does your vacuum cleaner not have a “blow” function? It’s possible to convert it to achieve this function. You can remove the bag from the vacuum cleaner and connect a long and narrow cleaning nozzle to the hole where the bag was originally attached. Air will shoot out of this nozzle that you just connected, which can be used to inflate your air mattress.
Leaf or Snow Blower
If you have a leaf blower or a snow blower, don’t bother with converting your old vacuum cleaner to do the air pumping job. Remember, if a device can blow air, it can be used for inflating your air mattress.
A leaf blower or snow blower can be a great substitute for an air pump. Create a tight connection between the blower and your mattress valve and blow the air into the mattress, starting with the lowest blower setting.
Garbage Bag
Most people don’t know that it’s entirely possible to inflate an air mattress with a standard-size plastic garbage bag. You don’t need a pump or another household item.
First, open the garbage bag and swing it up and down to catch plenty of air. Gather the open end of the garbage bag to trap the air inside. Bring the garbage bag up to your air mattress valve and hold the open end of the garbage bag around it. Squeeze the garbage bag to force the air out and into the mattress. Repeat as needed.
If you have a choice, it’s best to use heavy-duty garbage bags for this method. Weaker bags are vulnerable to popping when you squeeze them to force the air out.
Inflate an Air Mattress With Your Breath, If All Else Fails
If you can’t find any of the household items above to help you inflate your air mattress, take a deep breath and try the old-fashioned way. Put your mouth against the mattress valve and exhale. Repeat until the air mattress is firm.
Or, instead of finding a way to inflate your air mattress every time you want to use it, you can invest in an airbed that requires no pump. These are called self-inflating mattresses, and they come in the form of a compressed foam slab stuffed between layers of fabric that create an airtight envelope. A mattress like this also has a valve. When you open the valve, it sucks the air in and expands the foam, so your self-inflating mattress will be inflated and ready to use within a few minutes.