Your mattress is probably the most costly investment in the bedroom, thus it deserves and needs to be protected. If you choose the right products, they may reinforce the properties offered by the manufacturer, improving your experience and extending the life of the mattress.
Pad, topper, protector, cover and encasement all share the same function of defending your mattress against the damage factors outside such as dust, dirt, allergens and bugs. Meanwhile, mattress topper is a thick layer added atop and mostly for comfort. Despite how they are referred to as alternatives of one another, the definition and use of each differ if we look deeply into the matters.
Mattress Encasement
To start it off, encasement resembles a full-on shield with 6 sides to embrace your mattress completely, the other are 5-sided and hug the mattress like a fitted sheet. Yet, how does it benefit you?
Bed bugs: A worldwide concern. Bed bugs feed off human's blood, as well as other warm-blooded animals, and you wouldn't want to give them a chance to approach and reproduce anywhere near you and your family.
Allergens: Dust mites also enjoy making the inside of your mattress a hideout and feast upon the flakes of dead skin and pet dander. An encasement will block them as well as other allergens such as pollen and mold from getting into the mattress.
Waterproof: No matter how careful you are, accidents happen. Moisture seeping into the mattress will trigger mold and mildew. Sweat, oil, food stain cause unpleasant odors. Not only are they not good on the eyes, many mattress warranties are to be voided if you spill something over it.
Mattress Protector, Cover and Pad
The name speaks it all. The focus of this product is protection in regards with spill, stain, bugs and allergens.
By protecting the mattress, you're able to slow down the deterioration of the inner materials. Most protectors are installed as a sheet fitting over the top and four sides and act as a protective layer against spill and stain, with the comfort not being its main purpose.
While bed bugs and allergens aren't a featured function, premium protectors are made from special fabrics and capable of absorbing moisture and sealing out causes of allergy.
Protectors deliver necessary protection for expensive bedding, enhance the performance and, more often than not, prolong the mattress lifespan.
Even though with the same benefits of protection against bed bugs, water damage and longevity, many would recommend mattress covers because of several plus points.
Covers are thin, so they breathe well and don't alter the comfort of the mattress, but the zippered coverings keep them protected. Moreover, mattress covers have no filler, hence they are friendly to people who suffer allergies or asthma, without leaving spaces for dust mites and allergens to hide.
Mattress padLight padding and quilted top visually identify a mattress pad. It's placed between the mattress and the sheet. In addition to the primary purpose of padding, a typical pad will manage heat and moisture with its special materials and keep you cozy.
Most mattress pads also offer protection against stain to some extent, from inserting several layers between you and the mattress to offering properties of resisting stain and spill.
Thus, protection is a bonus feature of mattress pad, but comfort is its primary function.
Mattress Topper
Unlike the products enunciated above, mattress toppers are simply spread over your mattress and serve the ultimate purpose of enhancing the support and comfort. Through high-tech materials, a topper will conform to your body and distribute support evenly.
Toppers, too, have a secondary benefit promoted by special fabrics. With additional layers being installed, it might wick moisture away and manipulate heat, hinder stain and spill perhaps. However, a topper isn't designed to provide real protection.
Do I need all of those?
Of course, too much is too little. With the amazing products on sale that offer multiple duties, you only need to consider carefully and decide on one or two amongst those.
You should start from determining your priorities. If you are simply looking for another layer of comfort for your mattress surface, consider a mattress topper. You want some safety methods without sacrificing the comfort? A mattress pad is for you.To protect your mattress from possible accidents or prevent the risk of suffering serious allergens? A mattress protector is the way to go.
The products can also be used in synchronization. A fine encasement paired with a quality mattress cover will bring the ultimate protection to your mattress.
Protection is necessary
Cleaning agents and tips are in abundance on the internet, but some stains might be a challenge to remove completely. Protecting your mattress from the start is a wise and easy choice, as these products are pretty much affordable and washable. Mattress protection is highly recommended to sleepers with sensitive skin or chronic allergies.
The integrity and the surface of the mattress ensures you only long-term benefits.
