How To Wash a Mattress Protector | Care & Repair
Mattress protectors guard your mattress against spills, dead skin, dust mites, and bed bugs. This also means that they can harbor a lot of dirt and germs. To prevent this and maintain a hygienic sleep environment, you must wash your mattress protector at least once every two months.
We’ve covered you if you’re wondering how to wash your mattress protector.
Let’s get down to it.
Step 1: Gather all your cleaning supplies
Before you start cleaning your mattress protector, you will need the following cleaning supplies and equipment:
Cleaning supplies
- Laundry detergent
- Down cleaner
- Enzyme-based stain remover
- Wool dryer balls
Cleaning equipment
- Vacuum cleaner
- Washer or bathtub
- Nylon brush with soft bristles
- Drying rack, Drying line or dryer
Step 2: Remove the bedding and read the care label on the mattress protectors
This step requires you to remove all the bedding like mattress topper, pillows etc. to access the mattress proctor. Afterward, you should remove the mattress protector and look at the care instructions label.
The label will guide you on which detergents to use, the washing and drying temperature, or any other instructions that will help you prevent damage to the mattress protector.
Nevertheless, most mattress protectors have the following care instructions:
| Detergents: Regular laundry detergent or downwash |
| Water temperature: Cold or warm |
| Drying cycle: Normal or low |
| Cycle type: Normal or bulky |
| Unique treatments: Air-dry polyurethane mattress protectors |
| Ironing settings: Do not iron |
Step 3: Check for loose dirt and brush it off
Before tossing your mattress protector in the washing machine or washing tub, you will need to inspect the mattress protector for dust, pet hair, human hair and any other form of loose dirt.
Once you’ve noticed the loose dirt, you can either vacuum it while it’s still on the mattress or uses a brush to remove it.
Step 4: Clean the stains
If you notice any stains on the mattress while searching for loose dirt, you will need to spot-clean it with a soft cloth with a bit of enzyme-based stain remover or a mild detergent. After that, you should let the detergent sit on the stain for at least 10 minutes before tossing it in the washing machine.
Step 5: Cancel out odors
If your mattress protector has a musty smell, you must cancel it by sprinkling some baking soda before placing it in the washing machine.
Next, you need to spray it with water, then let it soak for about an hour before you can toss it in the washing machine.
Step 6: Wash the mattress protector
Mattress protectors should be washed with gentle detergents — we recommend down cleaner because it helps the mattress protector retain its natural properties. Similarly, you should avoid using bleach with chlorine since it will damage the fabric.
Since you don’t want your mattress protector to get damaged, ensure that you follow the cleaning instructions on the care label. This is because different mattress protectors are built with other materials. This also means that each mattress protector has instructions that might not work for the next protector.
After washing it, you need to put the mattress protector on the spin cycle to remove the extra detergent. This helps prevent allergic reactions, mold, and mildew from growing on the mattress.
Step 7: Dry the mattress protector
Finally, you could either air dry your mattress outside in a well-ventilated place, preferably out in the sun, or tumble dry it on low-tumble settings — high settings will melt the protector. Then again, to speed up the drying process and keep the protector from clumping up, you could always toss in some wool dryer balls.
Then again, if your mattress protector is made of polyurethane, you can only air dry it. This means you might need an extra mattress protector to switch them up since air drying takes a day or two, depending on the weather.
Read about waterproof mattress protector
Bottom line
Washing your mattress protector is not rocket science as long as you use the proper technique and detergent. Also, make sure that you wash your mattress protector every two months.
