Mattress protector FAQs
Why do you need a mattress protector?
Rebecca Robbins, PhD, associate scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, stresses the importance of using a mattress protector to keep your bed free of dust mites and spills.
The key to protecting your mattress from dust mites and other allergens is choosing an impermeable material, such as polyurethane, which is found in our guide's waterproof protectors.
"A mattress protector can also help extend the general life of your mattress and reduce the overall wear and tear," said Robbins. "So it's always a good idea to make sure that when you're buying a new mattress, you're coupling it with a mattress protector."
How often should you wash a mattress protector?
If you suffer from allergies and want to keep dust mite buildup to a minimum, we recommend washing your protector every two to four weeks.
If your primary concern is protecting your mattress from spills, we recommend washing it once every two to six months. The less you wash it, the longer the waterproof polyurethane coating will last. However, clean it immediately if you have an accident. If you're using a mattress encasement to keep bed bugs in, you don't want to remove it for at least 12 months.
What is the difference between a mattress protector and encasement?
Mattress protectors usually just protect the top and sides of your mattress, not the bottom. This is usually enough to protect against spills and dust mites. Mattress encasements completely engulf your mattress, which you need to protect against bed bugs.
How do you put on a mattress encasement?
Stand your mattress on the end, fit the unzipped mattress encasement over the top of the mattress, and shimmy it down. Once it's down and covering the mattress, put the mattress back on your foundation and zip the encasement closed.
Can mattress protectors prevent bed bugs?
No mattress protector can prevent bed bugs. However, an encasement can keep bed bugs from getting to your mattress. Encasements can also trap bed bugs already in your mattress, causing them to starve and eventually die.
Check out our article on how to get rid of bed bugs for more tips.
Do mattress protectors add cushioning?
Most mattress protectors do not add cushioning. Instead, they serve one purpose: protecting your bed. If you're looking for cushioning, we recommend adding a mattress topper or pad to your bed. Check out our mattress toppers guide for the best options.
How do you wash a mattress protector?
Most mattress protectors are machine washable using cold water. Then tumble dry on low. Most protectors have a tag attached with cleaning instructions. Try not to wash it too often since it tends to lose its waterproof coating the more you wash it.
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