Home → Blog → Resources → How to Wash a Mattress Protector Correctly – 10 Cleaning Tips & Tricks
A mattress protector is a simple and effective way to keep your bed clean, fresh, and in good condition, while also ensuring your expensive mattress lasts longer. Acting as a barrier between your body and the mattress, it protects against sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, spills, and other stains. Waterproof designs can also prevent liquids from soaking into the mattress, so you don’t have to worry about drying it out or lingering damp smells.
However, a mattress protector will only do its job if you maintain it well. Washing it too aggressively, using unsuitable products, or drying it incorrectly can damage fibers and the waterproof membrane.
So, how should you wash a mattress protector? The answer depends partly on the protector’s construction and care instructions, but this guide will provide a few simple rules that apply to most washable protectors.
Those unpleasant musty, damp or sweaty smells are typically caused by an accumulation of moisture and organic matter, which provide the perfect environment for the growth of odor-causing bacteria. While we sleep, our bodies sweat, shed skin cells and release oils, all of which rub off on the mattress protector. This combination of warmth, moisture, and organic matter enables bacteria to spread quickly, and these bacteria produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as part of their metabolic process. The VOCs are responsible for most of the unpleasant odors you smell.
Humidity can exacerbate the problem. Mattress protectors that don’t dry properly due to poor ventilation or a rushed post-laundry process trap moisture in the fabric. This can contribute to a stale, damp smell. In severe cases, it may lead to mould and mildew. Fortunately, regular washing, thorough drying and a well-ventilated bedroom can prevent these problems.
Experts recommend most households wash mattress protectors every one to two months. However, there are instances where more regular washing is a good idea. Consider washing your mattress protector every two to four weeks if:
Generally, you should wash your sheets more frequently than your mattress protector. Sheets are in direct contact with your skin, and experts recommend washing these weekly or fortnightly. As the mattress protector is one layer removed from your skin, it can go a bit longer without needing washing.
Follow these steps to wash your protector without damaging the fabric or waterproof layer.
All mattress protectors will feature a care label. These tell you the specific instructions for your protector and should be followed, as bedding can be made from a wide variety of materials that need washing in different ways. Check the label for the maximum washing temperature, spin speed, whether machine washing is permitted at all, and whether you need to air dry your protector or if it can go in the tumble dryer.
Remove your sheets and mattress protector carefully, then shake them off outside. Check your protector for stains, tears or signs of damage. A particularly stubborn stain may require hand washing first, while a cracked waterproof layer may suggest it is time to replace your protector entirely.
If you do find a stubborn stain, check the label again to see what products you can use to remove it. Don’t automatically reach for strong stain removers. Most of the time, you can gently blot the affected area with a small amount of mild detergent or a specialist stain treatment. Give it a bit of time to work its magic before putting it in the washing machine. Avoid aggressive scrubbing when cleaning a mattress protector, as this can damage fibers.
Add a small amount of a mild, suitable laundry detergent (as long as your care label says you can). More detergent does not necessarily mean a cleaner protector, and excessive detergent use may leave residue that affects the fabric performance.
Use the temperature and cycle recommended on the care label. Many protectors can be machine washed, but waterproof models often benefit from a gentle cycle and moderate temperature. The hottest possible wash is not always the best and can damage your protector.
For a good clean, the mattress protector needs enough room to spin in the drum and rinse properly. If you cram a protector into a full drum, it won’t get a proper wash and may place unnecessary strain on your machine.
An additional rinse can be useful if your protector is thick or you have used stain-treatment products. This helps remove residual detergent and may be particularly worthwhile for people with sensitive skin.
When trying to keep bad smells at bay, drying is just as important as washing. If the care label allows it, tumble dry using a low and gentle setting. Alternatively, air-dry the protector in a well-ventilated area. It needs to be fully dry before you put it back on the mattress, or the trapped moisture will only make things worse.
You should typically wash a new mattress protector before you sleep on it. This will remove manufacturing residues and packaging smells, and gives you a fresh starting point.
Some common laundry habits can actually damage or shorten your mattress protector’s expected lifespan. With this in mind, avoid the following mistakes:
To make your mattress protector last longer, try the following advice:
Regular washing isn’t the only way to keep your mattress protector smelling good. Polygiene Freshness technologies provide long-lasting odor protection that keeps bad smells at bay, so your bed and bedroom stay fresher for longer. Our innovative textile additives are integrated into the fabric itself during manufacturing, so they can provide around-the-clock protection and durable performance.
For mattress protectors, two main Polygiene technologies are relevant.
Polygiene OdorCrunch2.0 is our latest odor-control technology. It works by absorbing odor molecules and preventing their release during use, stopping the smells. The molecules are released during the wash, and the technology resets so it can provide ongoing protection. It is designed to perform reliably on challenging fabrics, including lightweight 100% polyester, and contains no heavy metals or PFAs.
Polygiene StayFresh is our leading antibacterial odor control technology. It works by tackling the source of the unpleasant smells – bacteria. Using an innovative silver ion formula, it inhibits bacterial growth, so these microorganisms don’t release the bad smells often associated with bedding.
As well as providing excellent odor protection, these technologies enable users to wash their mattress protectors less frequently. This saves energy, water, and money, resulting in a more sustainable product with a lower environmental footprint. At the same time, it also ensures bedding less exposed to the premature wear and tear associated with machine washing.
Polygiene’s technology is already used across home textiles and bedding applications, with examples including products from Sealy, Showa Nishikawa, Owl + Lark and other partner brands.
Yes, you can typically wash mattress protectors less often than bed sheets, as they are not in direct contact with the skin. However, care instructions vary between manufacturers and models, so check your protector’s label for accurate washing directions.
You can put some mattress protectors in the dryer on a low and gentle cycle. However, others will need to be air-dried, especially if they feature a waterproof membrane. Check the manufacturer’s website before buying or your protector’s care label for product-specific instructions.
For most people, washing your mattress protector every one to two months is a useful baseline, with more frequent cleaning required if it is exposed to pets, heavy sweating or spillages, and if you are ill or have allergies.
For manufacturers interested in taking mattress-protector freshness a step further, Polygiene’s integrated textile technologies can provide outstanding odor protection.
To learn more about Polygiene technology and how it can be applied to mattress protectors and other home textiles, explore the Polygiene Home & Pets solutions page and Polygiene’s mattress and mattress-protector technology.
