A quick breakdown of dust mite mattress covers
Dust mites are microscopic organisms that are basically everywhere around us. They feed off the dead skin we shed every day and dwell happily in warm and humid environments that have lots of dust and dead skin. The thing that we often have an allergic or respiratory reaction to is the excrements and dead bodies of dust mites that are left behind.
Simply put, you can never fully rid yourself of dust mite because there will always be some floating around in your carpet, drapes or bedding.
A good dust mite mattress protector works by limiting your exposure to the dust mites that are in your mattress, as well as by preventing them from getting in in the first place and reproducing there. A proper hypoallergenic mattress cover can reduce the amount of dust mites in your bed by over 90%, making your sleep much more problem-free, restful and pleasant.
In addition to that, most good dust mite mattress covers also offer bed bug protection and waterproof qualities. How much of these last two factors you need is another thing to consider, however, as they can sometimes come at the expense of some comfort? Waterproof mattress covers, in particular, often retain a bit of heat or are noisy to sleep in. They can also often be hard to wash and dry so if you don’t need something that is that waterproof, choosing an extra bit of comfort might be a good way to go.
Keep in mind too that while basically all mattress covers are advertised as “waterproof”, in most cases this means that they whisk away moisture and sweat. When it comes to heavy-duty fluid problems such as vomit or urine, however, only a few mattress covers are waterproof enough to help and they usually do that at the cost of some of your comfort.
Dust mite bed cover buying guide
- Quality is of the highest importance. A lot of people are so used to having suboptimal sleeping experience that they don’t realize what they are missing. Giving yourself about 7 hours of truly restful and blissful sleep each night can make a great deal of difference throughout the rest of the day and the quality of your bedding is a big part of that. Settling for subpar quality materials can result in having a mattress cover that’s noisy, retains heat and is uncomfortable to sleep in.
- Waterproof qualities vs comfort. Most mattress protectors are advertised as being “100% waterproof” but not all truly are. In fact, there is a great difference between a “waterproof” mattress that just protects against moisture and sweat, and one that can keep both urine and vomit away from your mattress. The thing is, however, you might not necessarily want the latter – mattress covers that are designed for fully waterproof effectiveness are usually less comfortable to sleep in, noisier and more heat-retaining than others. Consider carefully how water-resistant you need your mattress cover to be and how much comfort you are ready to sacrifice.
- Do you need a 6-side mattress protector or just a cover? For things such as dust mites and bed bugs, a full-size mattress protector that encapsulates your mattress from all six sides is often required. At the same time, however, if all you need is a waterproof cover that offers some hypoallergenic qualities, then maybe you don’t need a 6-side protector.
If the bottom part of your mattress is open then there is nothing to stop dust mites or bed bugs from setting up shop in it and the top cover will only delay them for a bit.
- Don’t ignore the zip. For 6-side mattress protectors, the zipper mechanism is very important and yet – frequently ignored. Not only can subpar zippers let dust mites and bed bugs run wild in your bedding but they also break frequently. It doesn’t matter how high the quality of the fabric is if the zipper breaks after two trips to the washing machine you are going to have a bad time.
- Don’t fixate on the price. Mattress protectors are not exactly “cheap” but keep in mind that these are items that are meant to last for more than a decade with the proper care. When choosing a mattress protector it is much wiser to focus on the quality and longevity of the product rather than on its initial price.
- Don’t ignore the warranty of the mattress protector. The average warranty periods you’ll see on most top quality mattress protectors are 5 and 10 years. Some will offer you 20-year warranty periods which is stellar while a lot of others will give you just one or two years of warranty. Needless to say, we don’t recommend you buying anything with less than 5 years warranty.
- Band matters. You should read a lot of reviews, opinions, and articles before making your final decisions, that’s true, but if you are a loss as to what to choose, don’t ignore the brands of the products you’re looking at. There are brands with decades of high-quality products and history and there are brands with less prestigious reputations. The ones we’d advise you to keep in mind include Utopia Bedding, Red Nomad, TRU Lite Bedding, SafeRest, SureGuard, PlushDeluxe, Four Seasons Essentials, Hospitology Products, Linenspa, and UltraPlush.
Dust mite mattress covers usage
- Exercise care when washing your mattress protector. Keeping your protector clean is one thing, but damaging it in the process is another. Every mattress protector comes with a clear set of instructions as to how best to wash it and dry it off. Temperature, types of detergents, cycle speed, ways to dry – these are all factors that differ from one mattress protector to another. Keep in mind that a lot of mattress protectors, particularly waterproof ones, tend to retain a lot of water when they are being washed and take a while to dry off. This isn’t necessarily a negative, it’s just something to remember and consider.
- Switch between to mattress protectors. Just like sheets and other bedding fabrics, it’s best to have at least two sets to rotate while the other is drying off.
Wash your mattress protector regularly
A dust mite mattress protector might serve to keep your mattress clean and safe but that won’t do you much good if you let the mattress protector itself become dirty. For good bed hygiene make sure that you are washing your mattress protector often enough.
- Keep your mattress protector as safe as possible. The fact that a mattress protector is waterproof doesn’t mean that you should test it every night. The more abuse your mattress protector goes through, the less time it will be able to serve you properly.
- Keep your bedroom clutter-free and clean. Good overall hygiene in your bedroom and home will mean less dirt and dust to plague your bed and mattress protector.
To conclude
- The SafeRest Premium Mattress Protector offers excellent dust mite protection and hypoallergenic properties. It will ensure a cozy sleeping experience to all people with respiratory problems such as asthma or allergies while also being waterproof.
- The Sleep Defense System Mattress Encasement by Hospitology Products impress with their waterproof and hypoallergenic properties. They are noiseless and comfortable to sleep in, although they can retain a bit of heat.
- The SureGuard Mattress Protector displays a lot of qualities we look for in a dust mite mattress cover. It’s hypoallergenic and waterproof while also demonstrating a high level of comfort and coziness to sleep in. It doesn’t retain heat and it’s easy to wash and maintain. Its one downside is that it doesn’t cover all six sides of the mattress.