Dry it before you store it.

Most pool floats die in the garage, not the pool. Heat, dampness, and sharp creases do more damage than a summer of cannonballs.

The actual process is simple: deflate it fully, dry it completely, then fold it loosely. If you fold it while damp, mildew will eat the material from the inside. If you roll it too tight, those creases become permanent weak points that crack next year. Let it air dry in the shade — not in the sun, which ages the vinyl — then fold it with big, lazy folds and stuff it in a bin or hang it over a wide rack. A cool closet beats a hot attic every time.

Don’t bother with the “leave it slightly inflated” trick. That just takes up space and stresses the seams. Fully deflated, fully dry, loosely folded. That’s the whole secret.

Future you will be swimming on a float that actually holds air.