Inflatables - General Information:
- All inflatables should be unpacked and, if cold or hot, should be allowed to assume room temperature before working with them. The best working temperatures are between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit or about 15.5 to 27 degrees Celsius. Colder temperatures make the plastic more prone to stressing and even cracking and warmer temperatures can lead to stretching and tearing. Just be careful and they will last a long time.
- These inflatables are made from vinyl plastic which has chemicals called plasticizers whose function is to make the plastic flexible and soft. Unfortunately, these chemicals evaporate over time rendering the plastic harder and more prone to cracking - especially at seams and stress points.
- To combat the loss of plasticizers I use some commercially available vinyl plastic protectant made for cars. While this will not eliminate the evaporation of the plasticizers it at least slows it down considerably. I also store any inflatable not in use in an airtight zip lock type plastic bag. This also will help prevent the evaporation of the inflatable's plasticizers.
- To clean your inflatable, try to use only simple soap and water. I prefer dishwashing soap because it is made to completely rinse away and leave no residue. If there is a stubborn spot you may want to try a little pure isopropyl alcohol, but be aware this may change or damage color. Always test a small spot somewhere hard to see first and make sure it won't harm the color or finish on your inflatable.
- In the case where you may need to repair your inflatable, the process can be simple to complex. I hope to have some further videos or procedure guides to help with this topic before too long. I have found that cleaning with isopropyl alcohol before using a sealant or glue seems to prepare the plastic best. If you have used some other process successfully I would be glad to learn of it - please contact me via email and I may include your method here.
- I don't know if I need to mention it or not, but leaving anything made of plastic in the sun is just asking for it to deteriorate rapidly. For long-term use try to keep your inflatables out of the sun and out of extreme temperatures as much as possible. Even extreme temperature swings while being stored will degrade the plastic and shorten the useful life of any inflatable.
- Finally, though to me it should be obvious, try to make sure your inflatable is kept away from sharp edges, pointy objects and hot surfaces. I don't think any of you really need this warning, but I include it in case you hadn't thought about the fragile nature of an inflatable.