How to Inflate an Air Bed with built-in Sponge Pump?

A similar one to this, but bought at Target (Deco brand but same picture):

Image: Quality Double Flocked Air Bed with built in Sponge pump by FUN ZONE

The package didn’t contain instructions. The way the pump works is a bit awkward and, for a while, I really wasn’t sure it was working. Went online looking for instructions. Closest I came to helpful advice was this Amazon comment. It eventually did work but it took a while and I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, I didn’t do it properly.

What I did: took off the cap and valve from the pump and pumped using my bare foot making sure I was covering the hole with my foot while pressing the pump and letting air in while lifting my foot. Because the sponge pump sends the air in other parts of the mattress, it’s hard to see that the mattress is in fact being inflated. There are two other valves on the mattress but they seem not to be used while inflating the airbed using the pump.

It might have taken me less time blowing the airbed with my mouth, especially given the time I spent looking for instructions. After all, I’m a longtime sax player and a lifetime non-smoker. My lungs are working properly.

To be honest, I did feel rather silly being unsure as to how this inflator worked. And I’m not completely reassured. Guess I just became accustomed to reading detailed instructions, even when they’re insufficient. Even a single diagram without any word would have been quite useful.

Now, we need to find out how long this will last as a mattress. We plan to use it as our bed until our furniture comes in from Montreal, which might take a few weeks. Hadn’t noticed the comments on the Target.com site saying how this airbed may deflate after just a few uses. The box does include a small puncture repair kit. Let’s hope it won’t be needed under normal conditions.

23 thoughts on “How to Inflate an Air Bed with built-in Sponge Pump?”

  1. @Cindy Not sure what a CPAP machine is but if you have an inflating device, it does make sense to use it. The sponge pump is convenient because it’s embedded in the air bed but I probably should have used something else.
    Thanks!

  2. dude thank god for you ! all the way over here in engerland we were standing around trying to figure out how this darn thing works…. duh! you take OFF THE VALVE CAP… yeah, simple diagram would have helped. THANK YOU and thank god for the internet.

  3. you are officially my hero, and my friends’, thanks for the protip, it all makes sense now, internet kudos to you good sir.

  4. Yippee. I had lost my instructions. So hence I googled and found the above comments. Thank god or I would have gone nuts. It is so easy when you know how. Thanks

  5. Thankks so much! We were able to have comfortable sleep in our car outside a pub in mangawhai, new Zealand thanks to you. Cheers!

  6. I’m going camping tomorrow and really need it to work. I was seriously going to give up and cry I was so frustrated. I tried Canadian tire’s website, the manufacturer’s website and searched high and low. Gosh. Thanks

  7. Simply amazing. Thank you and the more power to the internet. Can’t believe how easy it turned out to be but at first it seemed impossible.

    1. Wish I could but I don’t have access to that airbed, anymore. Maybe somebody else can show you.
      The basic idea is that your hand is preventing the air from getting out, like a valve or plug. Feels a bit strange, but it works.

  8. I think additionally, it’s better to get your foot along the entire length of the rectangular shaped sponge pump for maximum pumpage. It’s actually easier the faster you pump with your foot because you let off the pump quicker so air can be sucked back in. Then you pump down and cover the hole with your bare foot to push/force the air into the mattress.

    It says 180s on the box…. CHA ROIGHT! I’m sweating lol

  9. Such a frustration! And so amazing to read this and then sweet relief when it works!

    IMPORTANT: Keep pumping even though it doesn’t seem like its working, it takes a surprisingly long time to see any change!

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