Mold inside my air mattress.

[Quick Cal]

I have an air mattress that has a little mold on the inside. Is there anything I can do to clean it. Or is it trash. I'm worried about the air from the mattress going back into my lungs. I now have read to use a pump or sack to air them up. But I have blown it all season. Please advise. Thanks

[Anonymous]

On second thought, i agree with Stephen M. below. What kind of pad will determine how you should treat it.

[Stephen M]

Call the manufacturer and see what they have to say.

[Tipi Walter]

Is your inflatable pad just an air shell or does it have foam inside? Often foam type inflatables delaminate when mold compromises the glue, causing the pad to develop a bubble bladder though it still holds air. Then again, sleeping pads are disposable items like socks and t-shirts and even boots. If I can get a year or two out of a sleeping pad I feel lucky and ready to replace it with something new. We're talking about 180 to 200 nights out a year, btw.

[Quick Cal]

It's a Big Agnes Q Core. For the price, not exactly disposable,,,lol.

[Stephen M]

Tipis pads use dog years.

[Bob Moulder]

If it's only a small amount of mold, continuing to use one of the air bag (schnozzle, etc) type of inflators will limit the amount of moisture and therefore the further growth of mold. I've been using the Instaflator (millair.com… showing as out of stock now) for the past few months and to me it seems the air released from the pad is less funky, although I filled it with lung power only a few times before switching over. The pad material is fairly opaque (Neoair Trekker) so I can't really see what's going on in there… maybe for the best! :^)

[David Thomas]

I doubt you'd contract Valley Fever or some other infectious fungal grunge from the air mattress (this fungus CAME from YOUR lungs, originally, right?) but here's what I try to do to (1) avoid that and (2) fix it: Use a sack or pump to inflate as often as possible as others have noted. When I can, or when I get around to it, I get the moisture out by: -fill with cold air (this could be outside air in Winter or air from the freezer in any season). -let the air mattress get warm. That could be in the sun or I put it in the utility room which is always about 90F. -while still warm, deflate the air mattress. Repeat as necessary. One cycle reverses about one inflation by mouth. If you want to get all scientific or anal about it, you could fill a baggie containing a hygrometer with the exhausted air. When the exhausted air is lower and constant in its humidity, you've gotten all you can. Also, in the field, if you have the choice, let the air mattress get warm in the sun before deflating. Then the exhausted air will take more moisture out with it.

[Andrew Schuerr]

Big Agnes has sold me when it comes to warranties. You may want to contact them and see what they have to say about it. I had a seedhouse 3 that was about 10 years old and started weeping water through the fly at the beginning of a weeklong camping trip with the boy scouts. Luckily (or unluckily) I've been wet before and always stuff my backpack and sleeping bag into waterproof bags before I leave my tent in the AM so all the important items stayed dry. I emailed Big Agnes and they said send it back, 3 weeks later I had the newest version of the Seedhouse 3, the SL3. The tent lost at least 18 oz and gained 5 sq feet of floor space and 2 inches in headroom. I paid postage to send it back to them and that was it. Your mileage may vary as far as experience goes with your air mattress but it never hurts to email.

[Quick Cal]

I have an email into them. But it states on their website mold is not covered. But it also says to contact them if you have mold. I guess they must have a proper way to deal with it. IDK. Just waiting to hear back.

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