Mattress Protector & Cover

Don't let your mattress waste away! A good mattress protector can add years to the life of your mattress.

After spending your money on a new mattress you will want to keep it looking that way. Regular use can quickly mark and stain a mattress; we all perspire as we sleep and this is the cause of those yellowish marks that eventually appear making a mattress look grubby and unpleasant. Mattresses are notoriously hard to clean, a quick vacuuming and a light sponging down are all we can really do, so it really pays to invest in a good quality, easy to wash mattress cover or mattress protector. In fact, every bed should have one; their uses range from protecting a mattress from wear, tear, spills and leaks to protecting you from dust mites, mildew and mould. Some mattress protectors are designed to fit on top of a mattress and others are designed to fully encase the mattress.

A mattress protector is an essential item for a cot mattress, cot bed mattress or travel cot mattress; for more information, please refer to our cot mattress section.

In its simplest form a mattress protector is usually a lightly quilted fitted cotton sheet that covers the mattress. This type of protector is for preventing wear and tear; it will do little to provide protection against liquids and dust mites.

A mattress protector is particularly useful if an individual is susceptible to allergies. We share our mattresses with millions of tiny dust mites, they feed on dead skin cells and the waste they produce can irritate the lining of the airways and lungs. The waste can also trigger asthma, allergic reactions and aggravate skin conditions such as eczema, especially in children. A breathable, waterproof mattress protector can provide protection against dust mites and many other allergens. Allergy sufferers should consider buying a mattress protector or even mattress topper that is made from an anti-allergenic, anti-microbial material such as wool, latex or specialist foam.

Waterproof mattress protectors are available; these are primarily to address continence issues. There is no need to worry about them being unsightly plastic sheets, design has moved on since those days and they come in a range of different, fully washable and breathable materials; from cotton terry backed with PVC or lightweight polyurethane to fully quilted waterproof covers that don't resemble waterproof bedding at all.

If you are prone to eating or drinking in bed it may be wise to invest in a waterproof mattress protector; any liquid spilt onto the mattress runs the risk of creating mould in the mattress core, this can be especially troublesome if you are prone to allergies.

Mattress protectors can also be used to protect mattress toppers.