Wash your mattress protector every one to two months. IKEA's bedroom cleaning schedule says monthly, and Purple's protector care guide says every two months. If you have allergies, go to every two weeks. After a spill, accident, or stomach bug, wash it the same day.
How often to wash it in different situations#
Monthly is the right default for most beds. Adjust from there:
| Situation |
How often |
| Most adults |
Monthly, or every 2 months at most |
| Allergies (sneezing, congestion at night) |
Every 2 weeks |
| Heavy night sweats or a hot climate |
Every 2 weeks |
| Pet sleeps on the bed |
Every 2 weeks |
| Child who sometimes wets the bed |
After every accident, plus the usual schedule |
| Spill, vomit, blood, or illness |
Immediately |
The protector sits under the fitted sheet, so it gets everything that soaks through: sweat, skin oil, spilled tea, and the occasional nosebleed. You won't see most of it until it's yellowed. A quick look each week when you change the sheets catches the obvious stuff early.
How to wash a mattress protector#
- Peel it off carefully, folding the edges in toward the middle so crumbs and debris stay inside it instead of landing on the mattress.
- Check the label. Most protectors are machine washable, but some quilted or wool ones aren't.
- Look it over for tears, a stretched-out elastic skirt, or a waterproof backing that's cracking or flaking. If any of those, it's time for a new one (more below).
- Wash in cold or warm water on a gentle or normal cycle. Purple says cold is usually best because it prevents shrinking, and shrinking is a real problem on a fitted protector.
- Use a mild detergent without fabric softener. Purple points out that softener reduces how well the top layer absorbs liquid, which is the whole job of the thing.
- Skip chlorine bleach unless the label specifically allows it.
- Wash it with your sheets only if the drum still has space for everything to move. A waterproof protector holds pockets of water and can unbalance a full load.
Can you put a mattress protector in the dryer?#
Usually, on low. Check the label first. Most waterproof protectors use a thin polyurethane layer on the underside, and high heat is hard on it: over time the backing goes stiff and crinkly and can start to crack, at which point it no longer keeps anything out. Low heat or a washing line is safer.
Before it goes back on the bed, feel the underside and the corners of the skirt. The waterproof backing stops water escaping in both directions, so the top can feel dry while the underside is still damp. Putting a damp protector on a mattress traps that moisture against the foam.
When to replace a mattress protector#
Purple recommends replacing a protector every one to two years even without visible wear. Replace it sooner if:
- Liquid gets through to the mattress
- The backing is flaking, peeling, or crackling loudly when you move
- The elastic no longer holds it in place and it bunches under you
- There are holes or worn patches, usually where your hips and shoulders go
- A smell remains after washing
Keeping a spare is worth it, especially with small children or pets. Accidents tend to happen at 2 a.m., and drying a protector properly can take most of a day.
Protector, encasement, or mattress pad?#
These get mixed up a lot, and they do different jobs.
A protector is what this article is about: a fitted, washable layer over the top and sides, usually with a waterproof backing.
An encasement zips around all six sides of the mattress. The AAAAI's cleaning tips for allergy sufferers recommend encasing mattresses, box springs, and pillows in dust-mite-proof covers. If you have a dust mite allergy, that's the one to buy. Wash the encasement less often than a protector, and follow its label.
A mattress pad or topper is for comfort, not protection. Some manufacturers don't want one on their mattress at all: Tempur-Pedic's care page says it doesn't recommend conventional mattress pads or covers, and points owners to its own protector, designed not to change the mattress's feel. Check your mattress's instructions before adding one.
If something soaked through#
Strip the bed and deal with the mattress straight away. The mattress cleaning guide covers blotting urine and other spills without soaking the foam. Pillows usually need their own protectors too; see how often to wash pillows.
A monthly ChoreLists.com reminder on the first weekend of the month makes the protector wash hard to forget.