Air matresses on bunkends ...and old cushions

[birol]

Today I am going to take the cushions for the dinettes and have them washed at a commercial facility, foam and the fabric. Because of certain situations at home (woow, how diplomatic I can be, no one understood nothing eh  :p ) I couldn't get new fabric covers sewn at home ! We will just put the old covers on cushions and use them for this trip. WHen we are back I will sew new covers myself  :theking:

Is it safe to wash those foams ?

When I put the air matresses on the bunkends, will they get pierced by anything ? Do I need to put anything underneath and on the sides ? How do you guys protect your air mattresses ?

[MommaMia]

Today I am going to take the cushions for the dinettes and have them washed at a commercial facility, foam and the fabric. Because of certain situations at home (woow, how diplomatic I can be, no one understood nothing eh  :p ) I couldn't get new fabric covers sewn at home ! We will just put the old covers on cushions and use them for this trip. WHen we are back I will sew new covers myself  :theking:

Is it safe to wash those foams ?

When I put the air matresses on the bunkends, will they get pierced by anything ? Do I need to put anything underneath and on the sides ? How do you guys protect your air mattresses ?

Hey B~  

Very subtle on the reason for no covers!  I have a suggestion for you until new cover get made.  Use fitted sheets.  Flannel sheets work really well.  They grip better and look better.A twin of full(double)sized fitted sheet should work nicely over the dinette cushions.  We did this on our old camper.  I Our dinette was wide enough for a twin to work well.  You'll need 2 sheets.  When the table is down and the cushions are down to make the bed, you only need the one sheet.  But to put the table up and use the cushions for the seats, you need 2.  I would lay the cushions for the seat down flat and put the fitted sheet over them.  The cushions will only take up 1/2 of the sheet.  Then flip the cushion over and refold the sheet over.  You are basically wrapping the cushions.  Then fold them in the middle and slip them on the bench.  Tuck in any sloppy loose spots.  You can secure the end flap with a couple safetypins that are strategically placed.

For the large bunk ends you can cover them with matching larger sized sheets too if you are going to use the old foam matresses.  If you are going to use the airmattress and don't want to risk poking holes, lay down a thin layer of foam first.  You can get 1/2" or 1" foam at craft stores.  Or you can pick up some of those foam egg crate mattresses.  

I wonder.... how much room do you have when you close the roof down?  Maybe you could pick up a couple of futon mattresses.  I know I can get new ones for around  $50 a piece, but people sell them at yard sales all the time for next to nothing too.  And also keep your eyes open for a sleeper sofa that is being discarded.  Those matresses are thin enough to use on the camper if you top it off with an eggcrate mattress for extra padding.

[MommaMia]

Forgot....


You can wash foam, but don't put it in the dryer! If you do use the dryer... air fluff only , no heat  and it will take a long time! Make sure you wash on a sunny hot day and sit the foam out in the sun to dry.  You have to get it really dry of it can start to harbor mold and mildew.  It will take all day... and maybe even the next day for it to get completely dry.

[tlhdoc]

Birol is the wood on the bunkends smooth?  If it is splintery then I would put something down under the air mattress.  A blanket will work if you don't want to go out and buy foam.  If you don't want to get a couple of sheets to cover the cushions you can get some fabric remnants for the job.  I don't sew, but when I need to sew something I use the liquid thread.

[bearbait]

If you get sheets for the air matresses and they are a little over sized,  pick up a set of elastic corner straps that you would use on a bed at home.  You can pull the slack out of the sheets and make them fit very well by adjusting those straps.  That should solve any fitted sheets not being the right size on the bunks anyway.

[Gone-Camping]

Depending on how much room you have over the bunk ends, I've always used my air mattress on top of the foam mattress, still do even in the Hybrid...keeps something under you 'just in case' the air does leak out!  May not be the perfect solution, but it works for me. Careful about washing the mattress covers, if they shrink (which I suspect they may do) you may never again get them to zip closed again...

As for foam, that stuff is pretty cheap, I know you're on a budget (believe me, I know how that works), but new foam may not be much more than professional cleaning of the old stuff. Basically, the foam isn't much more than a sponge...lot's of soapy water and lot's of soakin in, lot's of squeezin out, and lot's of air drying...viola!
 
I'll bet they make you move the trailer, but trying laying just the foam out in the driveway to dry....it aint got wheels so they can't tow it away on you!