Most people don’t bother getting a mattress protector when they buy a new online mattress or even for their old mattress.
There is a misconception that mattress protectors are only for babies and toddlers or adults with incontinence.
But unless you sleep in a sleeping bag or a futon, you really should get a mattress protector.
Here’s why: it extends the life of your mattress, keeps your mattress cleaner and it’s important for your health.
Your Mattress is Really Dirty
Your mattress is unbelievably dirty. In fact, it is the dirtiest object in your bedroom.
Every time you go to bed, you are roiling around in an assortment of unseen allergens including dust mites, pet dander and pollen.
There are also tons of different bacteria (including fecal bacteria) and fungi.
That’s not to mention the pounds of skin cells and gallons of sweat you leave on the mattress that create a perfect environment for even more bugs.
Remember that you spend around a third of your day on the bed, breathing in all those allergens and being exposed to the bacteria.
It’s true that most of these bugs and allergens won’t kill you.
But allergens like dust mites and dust can cause allergies or aggravate existing ones.
These bugs can also worsen Asthma and cause sinus infections.
The health effects are made worse if you don’t have a protective barrier between your body and the mattress.
The bacteria, dust mites and skin cells settle into the mattress and you breathe them in night after night.
A waterproof mattress protector will make your bed more hygienic.
Not only will it prevent all these critters and allergens from settling in your mattress, most mattress protectors have antibacterial materials that keep a lot of the bacteria and allergens from getting on the mattress in the first place.
And for the few that manage to make a home on your bed, it’s easy to get rid of them by regularly washing the mattress protector.
Your Mattress is a Perfect Home for Mold and Mildew
It’s not just bacteria and dust mites that can make your mattress home; mold and mildew are also very common.
Even a little moisture from sweat can lead to the development of mold or mildew. Exposure causes allergy-like symptoms such as headaches, stuffy nose and itchy eyes.
The risk of mold/mildew is higher in high-humidity areas.
A good quality waterproof mattress protector prevents moisture from getting into the mattress while still allowing the mattress to breathe.
This ensures there’s no place for mold and mildew to grow.
Some Mattress Protectors Help With Cooling
If your online mattress sleeps a bit too warm, you don’t always need to buy a pricey cooling pad.
Some mattress protectors are designed to do the double duty of keeping your mattress clean as well as cool.
They use breathable materials that dissipate your body heat away from the mattress and prevent heat retention inside the mattress.
A Mattress Protector is the Best Way to Prevent Stains
Most online mattress companies will not accept a return or accept a warranty claim if the mattress has stains.
Some will actually require a mattress protector as part of the warranty terms and conditions.
But even if your new online mattress doesn’t come with such requirements, it’s still a good idea to use a mattress protector to prevent ugly and unhygienic stains on the mattress.
What Kind of Mattress Protector Should You Buy?
There are many types of mattress protectors ranging from basic cotton mattress covers to waterproof protectors with antibacterial and anti-allergen properties.
For the best protection, I recommend a waterproof mattress protector.
You don’t need to have incontinence issues to benefit from a waterproof mattress protector. Remember those gallons of sweat we mentioned?
Some people worry that waterproof mattress protectors make the mattress hot.
Some do but there are high quality ones that prevent moisture from going through while still letting heat dissipate away from the mattress.
If you can get a mattress protector with extra protective features such as bacterial or bedbug protection, that’s even better.
While You Are at It, Get a Pillow Protector Too
Considering its proximity to your nose and sensitive facial skin, your pillow also needs protection from bacterial, dust mites, pet dander and mold.
The best Pillow protectors are waterproof, hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-allergen.
Note that a pillowcase is not a pillow protector.
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