The Best Mattress Protectors for Every Budget
I think every bed needs a mattress protector. Why? We spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on a good mattress. If you’ve ever had a kid throw up in the middle of the night on the bed you know this is a necessity, but for everyday use, it’s just as important!
A mattress protector is cheap insurance for an expensive investment. The right one makes zero difference to how your bed feels and sleeps. A good mattress protector won’t even let you know it’s there.
Why Every Mattress Needs a Protector
Mattresses are expensive and they’re hard to clean. A protector keeps allergens, dust mites, moisture, and general life from working their way into something you sleep on every single night.
Think of it this way: you wash your sheets, but you can’t wash your mattress. A protector is what stands between your fitted sheet and everything that could live in your mattress permanently.
It’s also one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your mattress which means protecting your investment without spending another dime.
What to Look for in a Mattress Protector
- Waterproofing — look for a TPU or polyurethane membrane, not just “water resistant”
- Breathability — cheaper protectors trap heat; look for cotton or bamboo tops
- Fit — deep pocket options for pillow-top or thicker mattresses
- Noise — the crinkly plastic feel is a dealbreaker; good protectors are completely silent
- Washability — it needs to go in your regular washing machine without drama
The Best Waterproof Mattress Protectors
What I love about a good waterproof protector: you barely know it’s there until you need it. When you need it you are so glad it’s there. This is the most similar to what we have on our bed – it’s super thin and breathable and can be washed with sheets and a duvet cover without adding to the bulk in the washer and dryer.
The Best Cooling Mattress Protectors
If you sleep hot, this category is for you.
Look for protectors with a bamboo or Tencel top layer — they’re naturally moisture-wicking and breathable in a way that cotton blends just aren’t. Pair one of these with a set of cooling sheets and you will sleep so much better this summer. This one from Cozy Earth is a great pick!
The Best Organic Mattress Protectors
If you’re already choosing organic sheets and natural cleaning products, it makes sense to extend that to your mattress protector too.
Look for GOTS-certified organic cotton and waterproofing that doesn’t rely on harsh chemical coatings. They exist, they work, and they’re worth it. Avocado Mattress has a great one and so does Boll & Branch.
The Best Mattress Protectors for Kids’ Beds
Kids’ beds need the most protection and the easiest laundering. My criteria here is simple: organic and natural materials, fully waterproof, machine washable, dries fast, and affordable enough that you can keep a spare on hand. Because when you need it at 2am, you need it immediately — not after a 90-minute dryer cycle. This Avocado crib mattress protector is what I’d use if I had babies in cribs and Newton has some great mattress protectors for kids as well.
How to Wash a Mattress Protector
Wash it every-other washing or at least once a month, or immediately after any accident. Check the tags for laundering instructions, I toss ours in with the sheets! Some waterproof protectors will degrade faster in high heat, which is the one thing that will shorten their life.
Use a gentle, natural detergent. You’re sleeping on this every night — you don’t need a harsh detergent doing its thing that close to your skin.
You don’t need to spend a lot. You just need to have one.
A mattress protector is one of those things you don’t think about until you really, really need it — and by then it’s too late for your mattress. Get one on every bed in your house.
If making your bed every day feels like the first step, it is!
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