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There’s a good chance you spend most of your time using your bed. And with that comes plenty of wear and tear. As such, your mattress is bound to show signs of age fairly quickly. A worn-out mattress isn’t comfortable to sleep on, so you might not be able to take any more. Luckily, there’s a solution: a mattress protector. These mattress covers are designed to catch any dirt or stains on your mattress, preventing it from affecting the quality of the rest of your bedding. The reason you need one? It’s a lot more important than you think...
What is a Mattress Protector?
A mattress protector is exactly what it sounds like: a piece of fabric that you place on your bed to prevent stains or dirt from damaging your mattress. Invest in a mattress protector and you’ll avoid having to replace your mattress in the future. And while they’re not necessary for every type of bedding, they come in particularly handy for Orthopedic mattresses, and Memory foam mattresses. These types of mattresses are particularly sensitive to damage. So, when you use these bed mattresses on a regular basis, you’re bound to cause wear and tear. Eventually, this wear is going to affect the quality of your sleep. If you want to avoid this, invest in a mattress protector.
Why You Need a Mattress Protector
If your mattress is aging quickly, it makes sense to protect it. After all, you’re probably going to want to use the bed in the future. Buying a new mattress online isn’t really an option, either. Every year, it costs hundreds of dollars to replace an old bed mattress. Protecting your mattress prevents expensive repairs down the road. If you’re not ready to spend money on a new bed, a mattress cover will save you. You’ll get years of use out of the best mattresses with help from your new mattress protector.
Even if your mattress is in great condition, it still makes sense to protect it. Your mattress is out there on display for everyone to see. When you use a mattress protector, you don’t have to worry about children or pets walking on your bed mattress or getting it dirty. In fact, if you are using a waterproof mattress protector, your mattress will also be protected against spills that could discolour the mattress fabric or damage it’s fibres and foam.
So, using a mattress without a mattress protector is like using an expensive smartphone without a mobile cover. A mattress protector is a removable layer of bedding that encases your mattress and safeguards it. Let’s take a look at all that your mattress gathers over time:
- Dust and consequently dust mites
- Food particles
- Dead skin cells
- Moisture and perspiration
- Germs and allergens
A mattress cover safeguards your mattress from all of these, keeping it hygienic for you to sleep on. It also prevents your mattress from being worn down and keeps it fresh as new, making it last longer. Checking these 8 things will help you make sure that the mattress protector you choose is a good one:
1. The mattress protector sizes
King Size Mattress Protector: 72 inch x 78 inch (6 ftx6.5 ft)
Queen Size Mattress Protector: 60 inch x 78 inch (5 ftx6.5 ft)
Single Bed Size Mattress Protector: 36 inch x 72 inch (3 ftx6 ft)
2. The materials
Cotton
Feels – Soft, cushiony and cool
Why – Breathable i.e. absorbs and releases moisture quickly, makes you sweat lesser, easy to wash, eco-friendly, good in every season, most natural for skin.
Polyester
Feels – Satiny, slightly thinner and warm
Why – Moisture and weather resistant, easy to handle, tends to heat up but its elasticity (i.e. ability to spring back after every wash) keeps it lightweight, thereby keeping the heat in check.
Vinyl
Feels – Like leather or plastic, and cold
Why – Moisture, damage and stain resistant, extremely durable, fits your mattress very snugly and can be cleaned by simply wiping them down.
3. The way it holds your bed
Fitted: Slides over the corners and edges of your mattress and holds on to them
Features – reasonable, requires little to no effort to put on your mattress, but twisting and turning in your sleep could make it come undone.
Zippered: Contains your mattress and closes it up with a zip
Features – completely envelopes and protects the mattress, durable, requires tougher material like vinyl to carry the zip.
Elastic: Its straps grab all four corners of your bed and hold the protector in place
Features – great for cotton or cotton top protectors, scores high on comfort, doesn’t come undone.
4. The types of finish: Quilted Vs Non Quilted Mattress Protector
Quilted: Keeps the fiber in place and evenly distributed, adds extra cushioning to your mattress.
Non-Quilted: Prevents dust getting collected in the stitched corners, well-aligned with bed sheet and keeps it crease-free.
5. The thread count :
Thread count indicates the number of threads per square inch in the fabric. A higher thread count means that the fabric will feel softer and thicker.
6. Breathability:
This means the air flow through the fabric. When the fabric is more breathable, it remains cool and comfortable.
7. Is it easy to clean?
Look for protectors which are machine-washable or easy to wipe down.
8. Is it hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic protectors are resistant to various causes of allergy and also protect people who might be sensitive to certain kinds of fabric.
How to care for your mattress protector:
- Wash once before using it. Follow any specific wash care instructions on the label
- Wash at cold or lukewarm temperature with other bed linen. High heat could damage it
- Dry on low heat setting or simply line dry it
- Use bleach-free detergent. Bleach could damage its waterproof properties
- Wash it on an average of every once a month
- Wash and dry it at home. Dry cleaning or ironing could damage its protective quality.