How often do you clean your mattress? If it’s something you regularly add to your list of chores, you probably know that it can be time-consuming.
Mattresses aren’t the easiest to clean, but if you’ve got an Ecosa Mattress then it’s actually easy – simply remove the outer cover and pop it in the washing machine. The removable cover protects your mattress from sweat, dirt and bed bugs. But what if you have an older or cheaper mattress with no protective cover? You might want to consider a mattress protector.
Curious about how and when to use them? Read on to learn more about how to keep your bed clean with these extra layers.
What Are Mattress Protectors?
Mattress protectors are thin linings used as an added protective layer for your mattress. They’re usually made of tightly knit fabrics, and most are designed to be waterproof.
Mattress protectors typically resemble fitted sheets in how they cover the top and sides of your mattress, creating a full encasement. These serve as a middle layer between the mattress and your bedsheets.
Some new mattresses come with protectors, while in some cases, it’s an additional purchase that you can add at checkout. Most mattress stores would stock protectors.
So How Is That Different from Ecosa’s Cover?
Your Ecosa Mattress comes with a removable cover, a core feature of the mattress. You don’t need to purchase any additional protection. The removable cover does everything a mattress protector does – it’s waterproof and helps protect the bed from dust mites and allergens. It’s also super simple to remove and throw in the washing machine.
So if you have an Ecosa Mattress, you don’t need mattress protection. However, if you want one for added security, there’s no harm in doing so.
Why Do You Need One?
When discussing mattress protectors and why you need might need one, there are a couple of answers. The first is obvious – it keeps your entire mattress clean and protected. The second is that if you’ve bought your mattress from a large retail store, it might be part of their warranty that you must sleep with one, and if you don’t, then your warranty is void.
Dead Skin Cells and Dust Mites
During our sleep, we shed around three hundred thousand dead skin cells all over our bed’s surface, serving as the main diet of dust mites.
While dust mites are microscopic creatures that may seem harmless, their remains and their fecal matter (gross) can penetrate the surface of your mattress, which can lead to dust mite allergies and other respiratory conditions. You can’t see them, but they’re there.
A high-quality mattress protector prevents the build-up of dust mites and is hypoallergenic. Whether you’re a side or stomach sleeper, you generally want the top layer of your mattress to be free from those.
By washing a mattress protector at the same consistency as your bed sheets and doing so at a high temperature, you can help keep dust mites at bay.
Bed Bugs
Dust mites and bed bugs are often confused with being one of the other, but in reality, the apparent difference between the two is their size. In addition, bed bugs are evident to the human eye, and because of that, they’re much easier to get rid of.
But bed bugs enjoy hiding. Pillows and duvets are great hiding spots for these blood-sucking critters.
Since mattress covers and protectors are tightly knit and often have full encasement of your mattress, bed bugs have no hiding places, and they’re much easier to remove and wash away.
Sweat and Body Fluids
Waterproof mattress protectors are relatively standard nowadays, and that’s because they serve a useful purpose. They keep fluids or liquids away from your mattress.
Whether you spill water, profusely sweat on your bed, or even if your kid accidentally wet the bed, mattresses with water-resistant protectors can easily repel the liquids from being absorbed by the mattress cushion.
Since most of these mattress covers are machine washable, you can just throw them in a washer, so you don’t have to worry about any funky smells and stains building up on your bed.
Increase Your Bed’s Lifespan
Even if you get the best mattress available on the market, it will still go through general wear and tear, especially considering that we spend almost a third of our lives lying down on them.
Keeping liquids out and dust away from the material helps prolong the lifespan of your mattress so that you can make the most of your investment and get a good night’s sleep.
Are you sleeping with a toddler? While that can mean more fond memories for the family, that won’t be good for mattresses, especially when you have a bedwetting bub. A waterproof protector can quickly remedy that while adding a few more years to your bed.
When Do You Use One?
The best time to start using a mattress protector is on the first night you sleep on your mattress. If you have an old mattress, you can always add one to help prolong the life of your mattress. The same is true regardless of the type of your bed, may it be an innerspring or a memory foam mattress.
What to Look For in a Mattress Protector?
Finding suitable materials should be one of the first considerations in your hunt for the best mattress protectors. And finding a good quality one isn’t as complicated.
Apart from ensuring that your mattress protector is water-resistant, opt for ones that still allow for breathability in the material and offer good airflow.
Some mattress protectors made out of synthetic materials may cause you to sweat more during your sleep, so opt for natural materials when making a purchase.
Are There Alternatives to Mattress Protectors?
Honestly, not really. Mattress protectors can set you back a few hundred dollars, so it’s pretty understandable that some people don’t want to add them unless they need to.
This is why when creating the Ecosa Mattress, we included the removable waterproof cover. Made from Tencel, the outer surface is super breathable, protects the mattress from accidents, and is easily removable and washable.
Check it out: King Size Mattresses, Queen Size Mattresses