Tips & Advice Center

By using protective bedding, you can extend the life of the mattress. Whether you are saving it from incontinence accidents or protecting your mattress from bedbugs and dust mites, protective bedding helps preserve your mattress in its original condition. Whether you are looking for plain plastic sheets or a plush, breathable mattress pad, we have a solution for you. Some of our most popular solutions are:

• Vinyl covers: Also known as “plastic sheets,” these covers come in fitted or zippered and offer waterproof protection. They wipe clean and usually last a couple of years with normal use. Zippered covers also offer allergy and bedbug protection.
• Waterproof Mattress Pads: These pads offer waterproof protection for the top of the mattress. They have skirted sides and many layers to provide protection and absorbency. Be sure to check the waterproof material for breathability to increase your comfort.
• Premium covers: These lightweight covers offer waterproof protection in a lightweight, breathable cover. The zippered encasements are also bedbug and dust mite proof. The fitted covers wash easily and dry in one cycle.
• Underpads: Also known as “overlays,” these are great for incontinence! Most often seen in hospitals and nursing homes, they work great for young and old alike. Unlike a mattress pad, they lay on top of the fitted sheet and offer a quick change for soiling.
• Allergy Bedding: Allergy bedding protects against dust mites. These non-membrane (see below for more information) covers are breathable and very comfortable, yet they offer invaluable protection to allergy sufferers. Be sure to cover the box spring for optimal protection (vinyl covers are an inexpensive box spring solution!).

There are 3 main components in a waterproof mattress pad: waterproof barrier material, absorbent fill, and top material. We carry pads with two types of waterproof barriers: vinyl or urethane.

There are two main differences in these materials. First, urethane is breathable while vinyl is not. This is important because urethane allows body heat to be dispersed while vinyl reflects that heat back to you. While this may not be important for a child, many adults find vinyl covers can be hot and uncomfortable to sleep on. Secondly, vinyl wears more quickly and it is more likely to harden and crack than urethane. Urethane is more expensive, but it will last longer.

For the fill, the more layers, the more plush the cover and the more absorbent it is. If you are looking for a cover that is easy to wash and dries quickly, less may be more. Finally, the top material ranges from high thread count cotton sateen to a poly-cotton blend.

All mattress pads, premium covers and Allersoft encasements are machine washable and should be dried on low heat. Pads with a vinyl barrier layer or more absorbent layers take more time to dry. Do NOT wash or dry pads with vinyl on hot or high heat because this can cause the vinyl to melt or crack. Remember, like all linens, using fabric softener coats the threads and decreases the absorbency of the product. Using a product like Oxiclean or white vinegar will strip any build-up (urine, fabric softener or otherwise) and is recommended periodically.

Vinyl covers are not machine washable and should be wiped clean with soap and water or a disinfectant solution. Keep in mind the covers are treated with UltraFresh ® to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungi, and odor causing bacteria so wiping clean with water and mild soap is the recommended care.

Protection: Vinyl mattress protectors are the most economical solution to protect your bed. Zippered vinyl covers protect your mattress from fluids, odors, allergens and bedbugs. This is an inexpensive way to add years of life to your mattress, while locking out moisture. The zippered covers surround the entire mattress or pillow and are specially treated to retard the growth of mildew and mold. They are easily cleaned with a damp cloth.

Bedbugs: Vinyl covers are the most economical way to protect your mattress from bedbugs, or control them once they have set in. Zippered covers can be placed over mattresses with bedbugs to encase the bugs until they die out. This process generally takes about a year. Don’t forget to also protect your pillows and box spring when treating bedbugs.

3-Gauge vs. 6-Gauge: Standard 3-gauge covers are a great value and meet most needs. For heavy-duty, institutional quality covers, choose the thicker 6-gauge vinyl. We always recommend 6-gauge covers for commercial properties or bedbug control as they resist tearing more than the 3-gauge.

Fitted or Zippered: Fitted vinyl covers are easy to change and put on the bed. Keep in mind that zippered covers only unzip on one end and must be gently pulled around the mattress on all sides. This means you will need to be able to lift your mattress. If you can not lift your mattress or want something that is easy to put on and take off, a fitted cover may be for you. Keep in mind that fitted covers NEVER protect you from bedbugs or allergens. A fitted vinyl cover protects your bed from moisture only.

You can easily compare our different bedding solutions by viewing our comparison charts page. You can compare the types of waterproof bedding with the Waterproof Bedding Chart. Compare different types of allergy bedding with the Allergy Relief Bedding Chart.

In a mattress pad, the waterproof vinyl layer is sandwiched between layers of fabric. The vinyl sheet layer is not visible. Because the vinyl layer is protected, it is more durable and is machine washable. Vinyl mattress pads are also absorbent.

In a vinyl cover is a single layer of vinyl which can either be fitted or zippered. Since vinyl does not allow air to pass through, it is most comfortable not to sleep directly on vinyl. For people who are often hot when they sleep, vinyl may not be the best option. We recommend a urethane mattress pad or encasement for people who sweat a lot when they sleep.

When you are preparing to buy a mattress protector, measure your bed before ordering. The important measurements are: length, width, and depth. While length and width measurements are standard by bed size (twin, full, queen, king, etc) we still recommend you measure your bed to be sure you know what size you have.

Measuring the depth is most important because depth is not standardized. In the past, mattresses were 9 inches deep, but with pillow-top, memory foam, etc, there is now a wide range in depth. The depth is the height from the bottom of the mattress to the top. When in doubt, go up a size. You can tuck any excess under, but trying to force a mattress that is too deep into a more narrow cover can cause the cover to tear.

When selecting a waterproof mattress protector, one of the biggest decisions is whether to purchase a cover with a vinyl or urethane waterproof barrier.

Pads with a vinyl barrier:

• Are not breathable
• Are more economical
• Take more drying time
• Can be hot to sleep on

Pads with a urethane barrier:

• Allow heat transfer
• Cost more
• Are quiet
• Wash & dry quickly
• Are more durable

Allergy relief bedding comes in two types: membrane and non-membrane. Membrane covers have a non-fabric barrier. Membrane covers are waterproof. The advantages of a membrane cover are that they provide waterproof protection and in the zippered version, bedbug protection. Non-membrane covers are tightly woven fabric which does not allow allergens to pass through, yet it feels like cotton. Non-membrane covers are not waterproof and allow air to move freely. Non-membrane covers are lightweight, silent, and comfortable, but do not give the added protection of being waterproof.

Mattress pads and mattress overlays (underpads) are quite different. Waterproof mattress pads are intended to be placed directly on the mattress under the sheets. The pad is the last layer of defense protecting your mattress from harmful moisture or excrement. It is intended to be used only incidentally as it is cumbersome to remove, wash, and replace. When there is an accident, the mattress pad and sheets have to be washed.

Overlay pads are great for frequent incontinence. They are often used in hospitals and nursing homes, but are great for potty training, too! The advantage to overlay pads is they are easy to change. Overlay pads are intended to be used over the fitted sheet so they protect the sheets. For small accidents, only the overlay pad has to be changed. Overlay pads do not protect the mattress because they do not cover the whole bed. Overlay pads are intended to be used in conjunction with a mattress protector of some kind. Overlay pads are available with or without tuck-in sides to help hold the overlay pad in place.

Overlay pads provide protection for the middle section of the bed, where moisture is most likely to occur. For frequent incontinence, we always recommend you use both a waterproof mattress pad or vinyl cover AND a mattress overlay.