Do You Need a Mattress Cover?

Just when you thought you had all the bells and whistles for your bedding, you may need to make one more, minor investment: a mattress cover, also known as a mattress protector. 

A mattress cover serves a different purpose than a mattress topper or mattress pad. A mattress protector won’t necessarily provide added comfort, but it definitely has its own set of beneficial features that you may be interested in to keep your mattress clean and dry.

If you’re wondering whether you need a mattress cover or not for your mattress, we’ll explain all the potential benefits and give you all the shopping information you will need, but if you’re ready to purchase and want to see our top picks, we can take you there with a click below.

What is a Mattress Cover?

A mattress cover, also known as a mattress protector or encasement, is a thin sheet most likely made of cotton or polyester that you place around your mattress. This protector cover provides an additional layer between you and your mattress that can either be tucked, fitted, or zipped to stay secure.

Why would you need a mattress protector?

Typically sheets are lightweight, and it’s easy for liquids to seep through. Mattress covers are designed to work as a barrier around your mattress, protecting it from stains or other unwanted substances including:

• Liquid spills
• Food crumbs
• Bed bugs
• Bed wetting
• Dust mites
• Humidity
• Pet hair/stench

When you add this type of covering over your mattress, it not only protects your mattress from unwanted contaminants, but it also prolongs the durability and longevity of your mattress. Your mattress protector isn’t designed to give you any more comfort to your bedding, but it’s a smart investment if you want to take care of your initial investment—the mattress!

Who Needs a Mattress Cover?

A mattress cover is a smart investment for any person that could or has struggled with the above list of substances that cause damage to a mattress. A mattress cover can be particularly beneficial for families with young children, people with pets, or people who live in a humid region.

Mattress Covers for Children

Children are naturally messy, so it’s wise to prepare for the inevitable leaks and spills. Every parent should have a mattress cover on their child’s bed, not only for your random spills, but also for nighttime accidents which commonly occur while children sleep. 

Stains from bed wetting or getting sick overnight can be avoided by adding this protective layer, and it makes clean up time much easier. We recommend a waterproof mattress protector if you’re shopping for a child’s bed.

Matter Covers for Pet Owners

If you are a pet owner who invites your pet into the bed at night, a mattress cover could be highly beneficial in preventing allergies and stench. A mattress cover will help stop dog hair, slobber, dirt and accidents from seeping into your mattress.

Mattress Covers for Humidity

Lastly, if you live in a humid region, your home is liable to track in moisture. A mattress cover will prevent moisture from locking in, which will help maintain the durability and comfort of your mattress.

This is particularly important for memory foam mattresses. Memory foam is prone to expand and contract with temperature changes, so adding a protective layer can help support your mattress’s lifespan and your comfort.

Types of Mattress Covers

Mattress protectors can come in a variety of fabrics and offer several features. 

The most common fabrics that mattress covers are designed with can be waterproof, synthetic, natural, or quilted. Most covers are made from polyester, cotton, organic cotton, vinyl, or polyurethane materials.

When picking out a mattress protector, it’s important that you pay attention to the way it grasps onto your mattress. It can be fitted, zipped, or tucked, and depending on your living situation one style might work better than another.

For instance, a zipped mattress protector is known to work best for protecting against bed bugs. Fitted is the most common style of mattress cover, and tucked is the least recommended. You should also make sure your mattress cover is machine-washable so it’s easy to clean and maintain.

We did our research and found three mattress cover products that are well-respected in the market. Here are our top picks.

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3 Best Mattress Covers

We’ll keep shopping simple for you and call out our top 3 picks for the best mattress covers and protectors. We’re accounting for factors like price, protection, and quality to determine which are worthy of recognition.

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Anyone can benefit from a mattress cover. For a minimal investment, you’ll protect yourself from allergens, unwanted smells, and save yourself a lot of scrubbing and cleaning!