How To Repair A Floating Water Mat

With the weather getting warmer as summer approaches, you may be dreaming of cool and fun activities to do with your family and friends. Being able to swim or relax in the cool waters is an enjoyable experience. Adding more to the fun, you can even put pool floats, inflatables, and even floating water mats to play and have fun with the company you share. 


Having a floating water mat can make you feel like you have a mini floating island of your own, and it gets even more fun when you have family and friends to join in on your water mat while you have fun, laugh, and relax on the moment. But what if a sudden hole or tear appears on your water mat? Is there an easy way to repair it? What can you do to fix a floating water mat? Read on to learn more.


How to Repair a Floating Water Mat?

Taking care of your things is essential even when you are having fun. Purchasing a water mat is an excellent investment since you can use it for long periods and even years with the proper care and maintenance. With playing and doing activities on your mat, there can be instances that a hole or tear forms, affecting the quality of your floating water mat. You may think of buying a new one since there's already damage to the mat you have, but before deciding to purchase, knowing how to repair your floating water mat can be helpful in maintenance and saves more money than buying another. So, how can you fix your water mat?


Before anything else, it is vital to observe the amount of damage your water mat has. Determining whether it is salvageable can save time and effort in repairing them. Small and medium-sized holes or tears can be repaired, but you may have to buy a new one if the damage is extensive. 


There are float tool repair kits that you can purchase for water mat repair and maintenance. This usually comes with an adhesive and rubber patch to seal holes in inflatable devices.


A common way to repair tears on your water mat is with contact and spray adhesives, and even glue. When applying the adhesive, make sure not to stretch out the torn part of your water mat to prevent further damage. The next step in repairs are as follows:

  1. Make sure the surface of your repair is clean so that the adhesive can easily stick.
  2. Add a primer suitable for your water mat and let it dry for two to three minutes. Primers act as a bonding layer between the mat and adhesive, improving adhesion.
  3. Apply the adhesive to the surface you need to connect.
  4. Connect the torn parts and hold for two to three minutes to ensure that it sticks.

Sewing the foam from the mat together is a possible way of repair. Although different from sewing cloth due to its thickness and material type, here are the things you need to accomplish this:

  • strong needle
  • thread

In choosing a thread for stitching your mat, using a spider web (used for fishing) can be suitable. After gathering these materials, here is how you can sew your water mat:

  1. Make sure that the surface of your repair is clean.
  2. Baste on the water mat's tear using a straight or zigzag stitch.
  3. After stitching, ensure that the end part of the thread is well knotted so that the thread won't be loose and prevent the tear from opening again.

Water Mat Care

Prevention is better than repair. This is why knowing how to take care of your water mat helps avoid possible damages and fixes you need to do. What are the things you should consider in taking care of your water mat?


Transporting

In transporting your water mat, ensure it is appropriately rolled and fastened before travelling. Avoid putting your water mat near objects that could scratch, tear, or mark the material.


Storage

To preserve the colour and freshness of your water mat, reduce its exposure to direct sunlight. That includes when using and storing your water mat. Prolonged exposure to the sunlight's UV rays can damage the mat's surface, causing its colours to fade.


Ensure that your water mat is fully dry before putting it in storage.


Maintenance

Another element you must consider is ensuring that your water mat is adequately taken care of. After each use, you can cleanse it gently with soap or even dishwashing liquid and rinse it at home with your hose to ensure that your water mat stays fresh and clean (mainly if you used it on saltwater). Natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and oceans are not 100% clean. This means that not washing your water mat after using it in these bodies of water can cause bacteria to grow and cause damage. 


Be Mindful

Your mat is your responsibility which includes monitoring when it is in use. If you have your pets on your mat, take note of the possible scratch marks or chewing they may make. 

When you and your friends use it, remove any jewelry or clothing that could tear or rip the foam surface.



Conclusion

The warmth of spring and summer is undoubtedly the perfect time to bask and enjoy the calm waters with your family and friends. And along with fun, remember to take care of the things you have on the water, such as floats or floating water mats. 


Take note always to clean your water mat after use, roll it back up and put it in a safe space to maintain its freshness. If you ever have any tears or holes on your water mat, you'll know what you can do to fix them and have the same quality of your floating water mat as before.