Use a gentle cycle and cold or lukewarm water to wash it. Hot water may degrade waterproofing materials and reduce the effectiveness of mattress protection. Use a mild detergent without bleach. The plastic membrane or the binding substance might be harmed by the harsh chemicals in cleansers.
Quick Answer
In addition to protecting your mattress from stains, dust mites, and pests like bedbugs, a mattress protector may also offer a layer of comfort.
This protector must sometimes be cleaned to maintain its intended functionality.
Mattress protectors come in a variety of designs, from simple fabric pads that go on top of the mattress and under the fitted sheet to pillow-topped zip-up covers that entirely enclose the mattress.
Any style you have is comparatively simple to wash at home.
But the right way to wash a mattress protector depends on what kind of material it is made of.
Cloth protectors can be made of a single layer of cotton, wool, down-filled quilted material, or polyethylene plastic that is completely waterproof.
Each kind needs to be washed in a slightly different way, so always check the care label on the protector.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Need
- Instructions
- How to Wash a Mattress Protector?
- A Mattress Protector: What Is It?
- Cleaning a Mattress Protector of Stains
- Care and Repairs for Mattress Protectors
- Keeping a Mattress Cover
- How Often Should A Mattress Protector Be Washed?
- Cleaning Advice for a Mattress Protector
- FAQs
- Suggestion Videos from Youtube About Wash Mattress Protector
What You’ll Need
#1. Resources / Tools
- Bathtub or A Washer
- Dryer, Clothesline, Or Drying Rack
- Fiber Dryer Balls (Optional)
- Nylon Brush With A Soft Bristle
#2. Materials
- Conventional Laundry Detergent
- Remover Of Stains With Enzymes (Optional)
- Drop Wash (If Down-filled)
Instructions
- Detergent: Downwash or regular laundry detergent
- Warm or cold water temperature
- Normal or bulky cycles
- Drying Cycle: Low or Normal
- Specialized treatments: polyurethane shields that are air-dry
- Setting for iron: Does not need ironing
- Washing frequency: monthly or as needed
How to Wash a Mattress Protector?
#1. Take The Bedding Off And Examine The Label
To reach the mattress protector, take away all of the linen from the bed.
After that, take the mattress protector off.
Every mattress cover comes with a care label that tells you what temperatures to use for washing and drying.
#2. Examine and Address Stains
If there are any obvious stains from food, drink, or blood, use an enzyme-based stain remover or a dab of quality laundry detergent to remove them.
Utilizing a soft-bristled nylon brush, work the stain remover into the mattress protector.
Before washing the protector, let the stain remover stay on the stain for at least 10 minutes to start dismantling the molecules.
#3. Pick And Incorporate The Detergent
With the exception of down-filled protectors, every kind of mattress protector fabric may be washed using your usual laundry detergent.
You must use a down cleaner, such as Granger’s Down Wash or Nikwax Down Wash, on down-filled protectors.
These treatments are designed to get rid of dirt and smell while preserving the feathers’ ability to resist moisture.
If downwash is not readily accessible, use a mild, low-sudsing detergent.
The natural oils in the feathers may be removed by harsher detergents.
WARNING: A waterproof mattress cover shouldn’t be dry-cleaned or cleaned with chlorine bleach.
The protector’s ability to be waterproof may be harmed by the chemicals.
#4. Choose The Washer Cycle And Water Temperature
The best option for cleaning mattress protector textiles is warm or cold water.
Use the cycle for common or large objects.
For the purpose of keeping your washer balanced, the bulky cycle features a reduced final spin speed.
To prevent damage, you should wash the protection by itself.
#5. Choose A Drying Technique
The majority of mattress covers may be dried on a clothesline, drying rack, or in a dryer using the regular, timed cycle.
Polyurethane or waterproof protection is an exception; it should be air-dried or dried on very low heat.
To prevent the down from clumping, down-filled protectors should be dried on low heat with wool dryer balls added to the dryer.
Prior to re-positioning the mattress cover on the mattress, it should always be completely dry.
Problems with mildew development on the mattress might result from trapped moisture.
A Mattress Protector: What Is It?
Mattress covers may be found in three main forms with a few variants.
Any of these designs may be found as a down-filled pad, and they can be created from waterproof polyurethane, synthetic or natural fibers.
Zippered encasement: This mattress covering completely encloses the mattress.
It is the greatest protection to keep dust mites and bed insect infestations out of the mattress.
Fitting: Designed to go over the top of the mattress and tuck under with fitted pockets, this kind of protector is comparable to a fitted sheet.
Elastic straps that are anchored at each corner of the mattress are used to secure the mattress protector to the top of the mattress.
Cleaning a Mattress Protector of Stains
A mattress cover that has some noticeable stains but is otherwise clean and sanitary is not a disaster since it is often buried behind a mattress’ fitted sheet.
But if you want a spotless mattress cover, the most frequent stains can usually be eliminated with the help of an enzyme-based stain remover or even by giving the offending area a presoaking with regular laundry detergent.
Here are some remedies for certain stains:
A solution comprised of 1 quart of lukewarm water, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 1/2 tablespoon of ammonia may be used to eliminate urine stains.
Before washing the protector in the washing machine, soak the stain for 15 minutes, then run water over it to release it.
Cold seawater is often effective in removing blood stains.
After letting the stain sit for a while, wipe it off with a sponge before washing the protector in the washing machine.
The best way to remove coffee or tea is using an enzyme or oxygen spray cleaner.
Care and Repairs for Mattress Protectors
You may mend a small tear or tighten an elastic strap by hand or with a sewing machine.
If a waterproof protective covering tears, it has to be replaced.
In most cases, replacing zippered encasement protection with a damaged zipper is less expensive than doing so.
Keeping a Mattress Cover
For storage in a linen closet, mattress coverings should be rolled up or folded like a fitted sheet.
Before storage, make sure the protection is completely dry.
How Often Should A Mattress Protector Be Washed?
The mattress protector only has to be cleaned once a month since it is protected by the bottom sheet.
Washing the mattress protector every two weeks will be useful for allergy sufferers, and it should be done more often if someone has a cold or another viral disease.
However, the protector should be cleansed right away if there has been a spill or a nighttime mishap involving blood or pee.
Cleaning Advice for a Mattress Protector
For the sake of having a clean one on hand in case you don’t have time to wash and dry the protector before the bed is required once again, it is a good idea to have two mattress protectors for each bed.
For cribs, toddler beds, or beds for elderly people who are confined to their beds, having additional protection is very useful.
It is often due to worries that the item would shrink if it is cleaned that a protector’s care tag advises against washing it.
It may still be cleaned by hand washing, followed by air drying.
Before putting the protector back on the mattress, make sure it is totally dry.
Performing two rinse cycles will guarantee that all detergent traces are eliminated.
For those who sleep with skin that is sensitive to detergents, this may be crucial.
FAQs
A mattress covered with a waterproof label can I wash?
Yes.
Follow the steps above, but be sure to wash in cold water and set the dryer to low heat.
What is the price of a mattress protector?
Mattress covers range in price from $10 for a simple water-proof protection for a crib mattress or twin bed to several hundred dollars for a down or wool cover that is thick enough to provide additional comfort.
If there is a bedbug issue, can I wash it in hot water and dry it in a heated environment?
While using hot water and a hot dryer to remove bedbugs from bedding is often advised, certain mattress protectors may be damaged or shrunk by these high temperatures.
Instead, wash the protector twice in warm water and let it air dry on a medium setting for a very long period.
Temperatures over 122 degrees Fahrenheit will kill bedbugs, and warm water and medium dryer heat will often do this.
Numerous dryer manufacturers claim that the medium temperature (permanent press) setting generates temperatures of 135 degrees, which are more than enough to kill bedbugs.