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9 best mattress protectors to keep your bed feeling fresh
Stop tea spills and pizza stains in their tracks!
Namely because mattresses are quite pricey (and also because we're v clumsy), it's important to try and make them last as long as possible. Enter: the mattress protector.
This handy bit of bedroom kit may score low in the glam stakes, but it'll keep your prized mattress safe from spills, stains, sweat, dust mites, and, err, dead skin cells. The gross stuff, basically.
Here are our top nine recommendations:
- Best mattress protector and best eco mattress protector: Panda Bamboo Mattress Protector
- Best cotton mattress protector: Eve The Mattress Protector
- Best budget mattress protector: Fogarty Soft Touch Mattress Protector
- Best for winter: Dreamland Boutique Hotel Cotton Mattress Protector
- Best for extra comfort: The Fine Bedding Company Quilted Luxury Waterproof Mattress Protector
- Best for discretion: The Nectar Mattress Protector
- Best for softness: Next Touch Of Silk Mattress Protector
- Best for hot sleepers: M&S Pure Cotton Mattress Protector
- Best luxury mattress protector: Greenfibres Organic Cotton Mattress Protector
What is the best type of mattress protector?
Really, the best mattress protector for you comes down to your personal needs and budget.
Cotton mattress protectors are often the most expensive, especially if quilted with a soft cotton filling. Cotton is breathable and a good temperature regulator, making it a smart choice if you get hot at night. However, it tends to shrink in the wash, making fitting it a bit of a nightmare.
Synthetic mattress protectors don't have the same luxe-factor as cotton, but they're more cost effective. Expect to pay more for anti-allergy treatment and an extra waterproof layer.
In terms of fit, most mattress protectors have an elasticated skirt that slides under the mattress to cover the top and sides. Others only cover the top, with elastic straps securing it to your mattress at each corner.
How often do you need to wash a mattress protector?
Mattress protectors should be washed regularly, given all that dirt they're keeping at bay! Think at least once every two months, but more if spillages occur. Most can be popped into the washing machine, but check the label for instructions.
Do you put a fitted sheet over a mattress protector?
Yep, your fitted sheet goes over the top of your mattress protector. If you're also using a mattress topper (they're what you buy if you want to make a rubbish mattress more comfortable), then the order goes: topper, protector, sheets.
How we test
Our dedicated team of bedroom elves took 23 of the best protectors around to see which ones could shield your mattress from spills and stains. They tested everything from waterproofing to cooling qualities to noisiness, as well as seeing if they shrunk in the wash, before feeding back on their favourites.
Here are their 9 top picks, priced for standard double size:
Panda Bamboo Mattress Protector
This eco-friendly mattress protector came out on top, scoring an unbeatable 100%. It'll fiercely protect your mattress from spills - so much so that ours stayed bone dry after testers tipped a full glass of water over it! It fits easily, doesn't rustle and the bamboo/cotton mix is both sustainable and hypoallergenic. Result!
Key specs
Material: Bamboo, cotton, TPU, polyester
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Cot, cotbed, single, small double, double, king, super king
Waterproof: Yes
Quilted: No
Hypoallergenic: Yes
Guarantee: 2 years
For a mattress protector so fine not even sensitive sleepers will notice it, look to bed-time queen, Eve. This cotton protector came close to scoring full marks from our panel. It's smooth and silent to sleep on, and extremely compact to store. It fitted our mattress like a glove after a wash and dry, despite cotton usually shrinking. It's also sufficiently waterproof, should you spill your morning cuppa!
Key specs
Material: Cotton, polyurethane
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king, emperor
Waterproof: Yes
Quilted: No
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: 2 years
This quilted synthetic mattress protector impressed us for its wallet-friendly price tag. It feels silky to touch, smooth to lie on and the quilting makes it comfortable. It pulls away from the mattress a bit at night - a result of over-generous sizing - but it's a super reasonable price for the quality. It's machine-washable and there's an option for deeper mattresses, too.
Key specs
Material: Polyester, polypropylene, hollowfibre
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Waterproof: No
Quilted: Yes
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: None
Cold sleepers, rejoice! Gone are the days of relying on woolly socks as a way of staying warm. With the click of a button, this high-tech protector can turn on the heat, leaving you toasty warm within minutes.
The Dreamland’s Intelliheat technology also responds to temperature changes during the night, keeping sleeping conditions perfect from dusk to dawn. Add in its extra layer of cushioning and you’ve got yourself the ultimate cosiness cocktail.
Key specs
Material: Cotton, polyester
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, double, king, super-king
Waterproof: No
Quilted: Yes
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: 3 years
The Fine Bedding Company Quilted Luxury Waterproof Mattress Protector
Quilted, cosy and able to spare your blushes if your Friday night tipple topples over on your bed - what’s not to like? This protector boasts the rare combination of being waterproof and offering extra cushioning, leaving you safe in the knowledge that you won’t have to replace your immaculately unstained mattress any time soon.
Key specs
Material: Polyester, microfibre
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, double, king, super-king
Waterproof: Yes
Quilted: Yes
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: None
They can be a lifesaver, sure, but mattress protectors certainly aren’t the glammest of products. If you fancy giving your mattress a bit of extra protection but don’t want any extra bulk, try Nectar.
Its protector is so thin that it’s easy to forget it’s even there, but it’ll still have your back if your flatmate spills their drink on your sheets (again) while you’re getting ready for a night out. Remember those? *sigh*
Key specs
Material: Tencel, polyurethane, polyester
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super-king
Waterproof: Yes
Quilted: No
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: 2 years
Nothing says self-indulgence like silk bedding, right? But if you’re looking for a taste of the high life without the high price, try this silk and polyester protector. The silk (even if it is only 5% of the filling) made it super comfortable and soft to lie on. It’s not waterproof, so leave the coffee in the kitchen, but this extra layer of protection is sure to save your mattress from a stain or two.
Key specs
Material: Polyester, silk
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, double, king, super-king
Waterproof: No
Quilted: Yes
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: None
Quilted with naturally breathable cotton, this well-made protector helps keep you cool at night while adding a little bit of extra cushioning to your mattress, which is always appreciated after spending hours hunched over your laptop while WFH.
Key specs
Material: Cotton
Type: Fitted
Sizes: Single, double, king, super-king
Quilted: Yes
Waterproof: No
Hypoallergenic: No
Guarantee: None
Greenfibres Organic Cotton Mattress Protector
Mmmm, so soft! This brushed organic cotton protector feels like a thin blanket and fits the bed both pre and post-washing. It doesn't have a skirt, so it'll only protect the top of your mattress, but elasticated corner straps keep it firmly in place so there's no annoying sliding as you sleep. It's naturally hypoallergenic, but not waterproof, and it's fairly expensive. Organic cotton, though!
Key specs
Material: Organic cotton
Type: Elastic straps
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king, emperor
Waterproof: No
Quilted: No
Hypoallergenic: Yes
Guarantee: None
Harry’s news reporting has been published in over 70 newspapers across the UK. Now, he specialises in home appliances, health and fitness, bringing you reliable reviews on the best homes, sports and nutrition products on the market to help you upgrade your home and training routine.
Outside the office, he has dedicated countless hours to learning about different physical training methods, experimenting with everything from CrossFit to powerlifting.
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