Return policy
Our goal is for every customer to be totally satisfied with their purchase. However given the nature of our products and the fact that they are consumable items. They cannot be returned as we would be unable to resell them.
No returns, no refunds.
If you are unhappy with anything you purchased, if you have concerns about their quality, please let us know and we'll do our best to work with you to make it right.
Shipping
We ship internationally, customs clearance has caused delays but every international order we have shipped has reached its destination safely. We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with tracking along with any necessary documents. Delivery times vary depending on your location.
If it was down to your simply soft blend or the dotp, which one would you pick for the general maintenance/ restoration? | Customer Question
Of course for general maintenance, if you're just looking to restore to like new softeners. I would recommend DOTP or Simply soft V2.
V2 is designed to replicate common plasticizer packages, it's a blend of DOTP, DINCH, and TOTM. It's general with great stability, it will be slower to absorb than straight DOTP.
Simply Soft v1 is similar but with a decent amount of DBS added to improve softness and speed up absorption. The DBS adds a nice boost to this blend but it should be used a little bit more cautiously on painted surfaces. Our in-house tests with DBS so far have shown no issues when being applied to painted areas but it is a lighter weight plasticizer, which traditionally are more prone to paint issues.
Should I do the reinforcing first and then plasticizer, or do the plasticizer treatment first ?
There’s no one correct answer to this. Both approaches have their pros, cons, and best use cases.
If there is already a significant amount of plasticizer loss, severe enough to make the repair more challenging, then I would treat before repairs. If not, you can treat either way.
Before repairs
Pros:
Flexible vinyl is easier to work with.
Plasticizer will absorb better.
You can be more strategic about which areas you treat. For example, you can treat the areas that are going to be reinforced to help compensate for the added material.
Cons:
Plasticizer can interfere with how well vinyl adhesives adhere, which may make the repair take longer.
After repairs
Pros:
Won’t slow down the repair process.
Won’t impact adhesion.
The filler and adhesive residue left behind by the repair will also get treated, rather than relying on plasticizer migrating from surrounding material.
Cons:
Less control over where the plasticizer ends up.
Plasticizer will absorb more slowly.
It can be more challenging to get the repaired areas even with the rest of the material.
What I would do
If this were my project, I would pre-plasticize all of the reinforcement strips you plan on using and get those pretty dang soft. Perform the repairs once that’s done, then soften the rest of the toy to your taste.
Why Choose Vinyl Vibe Studio?
Why Choose VVS?
- Community First: VVS grew out of the pool toy community. We love these toys as much as you do, and we understand the joy and comfort they bring. Your purchase supports a
friend, not a faceless corporation.
- High-Quality, Purpose Made Products: Our valves, vinyl and plasticizer are designed for inflatables. You will never again need to ruin a toy just to salvage a valve or use clay softener to fix plasticizer loss. We source the materials that these toys are made of, directly from the same manufacturers and suppliers that pool toy manufacturers use.
- Passion Driven Curiosity: we are here to learn and grow. We are passionate and we do this out of love. This is something we were already doing and would still be doing even if
it wasn’t a business venture.
Knowledge Sharing: We are committed to building a library of factual, science-based information about vinyl and pool toys. We share care tips, cleaning guides, and repair tutorials drawn from reliable sources so you can keep your collection in top condition.
- Ethical and Sustainable: We believe in treating our toys with reverence. We will never promote unsafe products like clay softener, and we encourage responsible use and repair rather than disposal.
VVS is more than a store; it is a community resource. By choosing us, you are investing in the tools, knowledge and people who cherish these toys as much as you do.
Do I need to heat vinyl for plasticizer to work?
No, heat is not required for plasticizer to absorb into vinyl. It helps, but it’s not a prerequisite.
Plasticizer works through diffusion, meaning it gradually soaks into the polymer matrix over time. Warmer temperatures speed up this process by increasing molecular mobility, but the absorption itself happens regardless of temperature.
The myth that plasticizer must be “heat-activated” probably comes from two places. First, people often see faster results when a treated toy is warmed so they assume heat is required. But in truth, they’re just speeding up what would’ve happened anyway.
Second, in the manufacturing process, plasticizer is indeed added while the vinyl is molten often at temperatures of 150°C or more. But that’s not because plasticizer needs heat to “work.” It’s because the vinyl itself has to be melted to be processed, poured, or molded. That early exposure to high heat doesn’t make the plasticizer behave differently it’s just part of how the material gets made.
So yes, heat can improve absorption and gentle warmth can be helpful if you're seeing slow results. But if you're worried that your treatment won’t work at all without heat, don’t be. Plasticizer diffuses just fine at room temperature or even cooler. Time and contact matter more than temperature alone.
Softness doesn’t need a heat gun.