Mattress Covers

Ah, sleep. That elusive interval during the night when we should get to rest and relax, but frequently end up staying awake until late in the night. We almost never get that full eight hours a night, but gosh, do we try.

No matter how much sleeping we get to do, we all spend a good amount of time in bed. Usually not as much as we would like, but still, we spend as much time as we can. That’s why it’s so important that our bed is a comfortable space.

We know that getting enough sleep is so important, but what is it that we can do to make that as easy as possible?

Once you’ve gotten that perfect bed, you have one more thing to check off your list: a good mattress cover.

What is a Mattress Cover?

For those of us who are used to putting our sheets on a plain, bare mattress, you may have never even heard of a mattress protector. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. But they are pretty important.

A mattress cover is like a big, thick sheet that you keep on top of your mattress, but underneath your fitted sheet. They often have a zipper and can fully encase your mattress on all sides. 

It provides protection for your mattress from things like sweat, dirt, and those nasty little insects like bed bugs. Mattress protection like this means that you won't have to worry about stains, especially if you have kids or pets who are prone to accidents. It can even extend the lifespan of your mattress!  

Mattress Cover vs. Mattress Pad

If you think that the terms “mattress cover” and “mattress pad” are interchangeable, we’re sorry to inform you that you’re wrong.

So what are the differences between the two? There are actually quite a few.

A mattress cover is thick, but not intended to provide any extra cushion or comfort to the mattress.

A mattress pad, on the other hand, is designed to bump up the comfort and cushion level of your mattress. It usually comes with some type of foam or memory foam. Some even come with a comforting gel insert inside of them. These are also sometimes referred to as mattress toppers

They usually are not intended to necessarily protect the mattress itself, just add some extra fluffiness to it. You may want to use both to get a protected, comfy mattress.

What Does a Mattress Cover Do?

What exactly is a mattress cover supposed to do, after all?

Mattress covers are created to cover the mattress. It’s intended to be used on your mattress for lengths of time and should last as long as your mattress does.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the option of throwing our mattress in the washer and dryer. But that doesn’t mean it can’t get dirty or messy, which is why a waterproof protector is so important. A mattress cover can make your bed a more hygienic, clean place to sleep.

Another huge advantage of using a mattress cover is that it protects your mattress from bed bug infestations, which is most people’s worst nightmare.

Why Do You Need a Mattress Cover?

When you have trouble sleeping, you go through everything you can to ensure you can sleep as much as possible. One of the most common ways that you can elevate your sleeping habits is to invest in a nice mattress.

But these mattresses don’t come cheap. If you invest up to thousands of dollars into a mattress, you want to make sure you get some good use out of it, right? You don’t want one spill or one bad case of night sweats to get your mattress all gross and nasty.

With a mattress cover, you can extend the life and cleanliness of your mattress. It’s a small investment when you consider all that it can do for you and your mattress in the long run.

What to Look for in a Mattress Cover

Not all mattress covers are built the same. If you get a mattress cover, you want to know that it’s going to provide full, quality protection for your mattress as efficiently as possible.

So what should you be on the lookout for when it comes to mattress covers?

Here are the most important qualities that your mattress cover can have.

Hypoallergenic

If you suffer from dander or dust allergies, the last place you want to suffer from those is in your bed. Your bed should be a healthy, clean space, free from any of those sniffles and itchy eyes that allergies cause.

This is why it’s important to make sure that your mattress cover is hypoallergenic. This means that it won’t trap or hold on to allergens like dust mites or pet dander. It also means that the materials it’s made out of are not known to cause any skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Waterproof

If you live in a hot climate where your air conditioning system never seems to be able to keep up, there’s a high probability that you’ll spend at least a few nights getting a little bit sweaty in bed.

Many of us also like to have water or tea while we’re in bed. Sometimes, though, we’re all capable of accidentally spilling our drink a little in bed.

A mattress cover that’s waterproof will save your expensive mattress from absorbing these liquids. These mattress covers have a water-repellent coating that keeps water from soaking into your mattress. 

As a bonus, this means you won’t encounter problems like mold or mildew building up in your mattress.

Easy to Wash and Dry

We know we keep bringing up that you can’t throw your mattress in the washer, but the importance of being able to wash your mattress cover cannot be stated enough.

Changing your sheets can only do so much to keep you fresh and clean in bed. 

Finding a mattress cover that’s easy to wash and dry makes great bed hygiene easy and quick.

See What a Mattress Cover Can Do for You

If you’ve been living without that layer of protection on your fancy new mattress, get yourself a mattress cover to protect your sleep investment.

Sources:

10 Reasons Why Good Sleep Is Important | Healthline

Bedbugs - Signs of an Infestation & How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs | WebMD

What Does Hypoallergenic Mean? | WebMD