About bed bug mattress covers
The most common fabrics for a bed bug proof mattress cover are polyester and cotton. As a mattress cover should also make sure that your sleep on it is comfortable and unobstructed, most other fabrics are not really suited for residential use.
Of the two, cotton is generally softer and more comfortable to sleep in but polyester is also frequently used as it makes for a more waterproof mattress cover. Regardless of which of the two you choose, what matters is that the quality is high enough for bed bugs to not be able to pass through.
Bed bug mattress protector buying guide
So, what are the several things you need to consider before buying a mattress cover that will protect you from bed bugs? Here’s a quick list:
- Quality. As with anything else, making sure that what you purchase is of a high enough quality is vital. Bed bugs are extremely tenacious and stubborn insects so even the smallest opening in the zipper or the material can allow them to thrive. That’s why it’s important for your cover’s zipper to seal properly, as well as to be durable enough to survive frequent opening and losing. A mattress cover is meant to last for more than a decade so the same should apply for its zipper.
The zipper of the mattress cover is actually the more important part, as far as bed bug protection is concerned. Most standard zippers leave enough spaces between their teeth for bed bugs to pass through, so bed bug proof mattress covers typically use special zipper designs.
- Size. Obviously, whatever you purchase needs to fit on your bed as well as possible. Buying a bigger sized mattress cover than what your bed needs is not that huge of a mistake since you can use sheet clips to tighten it up, but it’s still better if the mattress encasement fits the mattress perfectly.
- Waterproof materials. Even if you’re just buying a mattress cover to help you deal with bed bugs, a waterproof mattress encasement is still a big benefit. It will protect your mattress from accidental spills, as well as from sweat. Keep in mind, however, that for people, kids or pets who frequently pee in bed even a waterproof encasement will likely not be enough and extra mattress protection will be needed.
- Hypoallergenic materials. For people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems, getting a hypoallergenic mattress cover is a great idea. Even if you don’t have such problems, however, it’s beneficial if your bed bug proof mattress cover is hypoallergenic too as it will still improve the quality of your sleep.
- If you have a box spring bed make sure that the mattress encasement will cover your box spring as well. Bed bugs spread much more easily in beds with box springs so don’t ignore that factor.
- Noiselessness. A lot of waterproof and hypoallergenic fabrics are unfortunately a bit noisy to sleep in. If you don’t want to wake up your partner every time you turn around in bed make sure that your future mattress cover is not too noisy to sleep in.
- Heat retention. Similarly, a lot of mattress covers are not breathable enough as a result of their efforts to be waterproof. This can mean that your bed will be considerably warmer to sleep in. While this may not be that big of a problem for some people (or during the colder months of the year), it’s generally unpleasant and can lead to sweatiness, trouble sleeping, and so on.
- The warranty. Buying a mattress cover is a long-term investment so don’t forget to consider the product’s warranty. Most good mattress encasement manufacturers will give you a warranty of at least 5 or 10 years so don’t settle for less than 5 years.
Expert tips
Mattress covers are not something that you just place on your mattress and forget about. They need to be frequently removed, cleaned and placed back on. This means that if your cover is tricky to use, requires a lot of effort to take off and put back on, etc., it will be annoying to work with. Additionally, if the zipper is not sturdy enough it may break after several uses.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of factors to consider when choosing a mattress cover and that means that there is a lot of research to be made. Don’t settle with just reading this article but instead look for more guides, lists, reviews, and opinions. Consumer reviews online can be tricky to navigate through but if you read enough of them you will start getting a picture of what you should be gravitating towards. The brands we’d recommend you pay extra attention to are: Mibio, Four Seasons, Linenspa, Sleep Defense, SafeRest, SureGiard, LUCID, PlushDeluxe, Red Nomad and Utopia.
Bed bug mattress cover usage
So, to that end, it’s vital that you protect your mattress cover from spills even if it’s waterproof, that you clean it regularly, as well as that you inspect if for bed bugs or other pests and problems frequently. Also, change your sheets often enough, make sure that you are not sweating in bed, and consider also getting a fitted mattress protector if you have a family member that pees in bed. If you exercise a good enough care, your bed bug mattress cover should serve you faithfully for quite some time.
To conclude
- The Sleep Defense System Mattress Encasement by Hospitology Products is waterproof and hypoallergenic while also preventing any and all bed bugs. It’s polyester material is not noiseless and might warm your bed too, but the overall quality and protection it brings are undeniable.
- This SureGuard Mattress Encasement is made out of a comfortable cotton terry top that is not just soft and pleasant but also waterproof, hypoallergenic and bed bug proof. The SureSeal zipper technology also works great in tandem with it, resulting in a great bed bug mattress cover.
- The SafeRest Premium Mattress Encasement is also made out of cotton, which, together with the Micro-Zipper technology prevents bed bugs from spreading at all. The zipper can be tricky to use for some customers but the covers themselves are also waterproof, hypoallergenic and almost noiseless, turning them into a great choice for most people and situations.