Shock Treatment & Conditioner

Let us remind you that waterbed conditioner is very important in combating algae and bacteria.
There are many products on the supermarket shelves that will do similar but waterbed conditioner also contains vinyl treatment to prolong mattress life.

We advise that when setting up a new mattress or refilling a mattress that a shock treatment be used to bring the new water solution up to full strength, then use the six month solution after that.
Make sure that you use shock treatment to start off. If you don't the vinyl treatment strength would not be at required levels.

You will find that adding shock treatment is one of the conditions of waterbed mattress warranties . Most manufacturers will void some of warranty if shock treatment is not used. It is important that you should have proof of waterbed shock treatment purchase, in case bad water like tank water is used and the mattress becomes smelly.

What are plasticizers?

Plasticizers for plastics are additive that give hard plastics like PVC the desired flexibility and durability. They are often based on esters of polycarboxylic acids with linear or branched aliphatic alcohols of moderate chain length. Plasticizers work by embedding themselves between the chains of polymers, spacing them apart (increasing of the "free volume"), and thus significantly lowering the glass transition for the plastic and making it softer. For plastics such as PVC, the more plasticiser added, the lower its cold flex temperature will be. This means that it will be more flexible, though its strength and hardness will decrease as a result of it. Some plasticizers evaporate and tend to concentrate in an enclosed space; the "new car smell" is caused mostly by plasticizers evaporating from the car interior.

What is the purpose of plasticizers?

PVC liner production involves mixing or blending PVC resin, stabilizers, plasticizers and pigments. The plasticizer softens the polymer to make it pliable to aid in Calendering (manufacturing) process and provide a flexible sheet which is easy to seam in both factory and field conditions by a variety of methods. When plasticizer is blended with the PVC, a portion of it forms an intimate bond with the PVC, while the remainder is captured in the polymer matrix.

How is plasticizer lost?

The rate of loss of plasticizer depends on plasticizer type, temperature, sheet thickness, environment and exposure time. The actual mechanism behind this loss is migration of plasticizer from the surface membrane. Plasticizers can migrate from PVC geomembranes over time because of contact with air, liquid and an absorbent sold material Plasticizer loss reduces the flexability of PVC geomembranes and in extreme cases results in noticeable shrinkage. [See photo below] The constant use of bleach on vinyl fabric will rob the plasticizer and make the fabric stiff. Adding anti-bacterial products to the waterbed water is beneficial to eliminating bacteria and algae but it does not address the loss of plasticizer

Waterbed Treatment

Waterbed Magic is a multi purpose waterbed conditioner, specially formulated to treat and condition mattress water, fiber and foam. Also lubricates and conditions vinyl interior, maximising mattress life by reducing the loss of plasticizer leaching into the mattress water or water gel crystals.

As gel beds are not normally heated, the loss of plasticzer is reduced but we still recommend the initial use of shock treatment to eliminate algae and bacterial growth in the gel as with normal heated waterbeds.

Honey I Shrunk the Mattress!!

The loss of plasticizer in this extreme case has shrunk the mattress away from the corner. This can happen to ALL brands of waterbed mattresses.
Make sure that there is plasticizer in the conditioner by buying it from a reputable waterbed dealer.
When filling or refilling your waterbed mattress use a concentrate like our shock treatment and six monthly follow ups.
Contact Dreamlover Waterbeds and they will send you the right product for the job.