How to Protect Your Mattress

A mattress protector, topper or underlay can help to protect and extend the life of your mattress by keeping it clean. Mattress toppers also help to prevent dust mites and protect the mattress from moisture lost from your body. Even if you’re storing your mattress or moving it, there are mattress protectors for storage.

Choosing the right mattress protector for your mattress will keep it clean for longer, but you will have to clean it occasionally or even replace it eventually. This guide will help you weigh up the options to protect your mattress, so it stays comfortable for longer.

Why it’s important to protect your mattress

Mattresses can be a big investment. However, this makes sense given they are a huge contributing factor to the quality of your sleep. Protecting your mattress is the best way to increase its longevity, and there are many options to do so depending on your needs.

Better sleep

Many mattress protectors help with a better night's sleep. As well as protecting your mattress, many protectors feature foams and materials that offer more support, keep you warmer or even keep you cooler. Temperature control and comfort help for a longer and better quality night's sleep.

Save money

A mattress is a big investment, especially larger mattresses or options that are of top quality. No matter what you do, you’ll need to replace the mattress eventually, but protecting it can extend the overall life of your bed by up to 10 years, which is a significant difference. You wouldn’t carry your iPhone around without a case, and the same goes for your mattress.

Prevent bad smells

Whether it’s bodily fluids or a build-up of mould and sweat, if you don’t protect your mattress, these nasties can seep through and build up over time. If you don’t catch these early, this can cause bad smells in your bed.

Protect the environment

Not all mattresses are recyclable, especially older models. Even then, some people don’t even think to recycle mattresses, so they end up at the landfill. It can take a normal mattress anywhere up to 120 years to break down, so it’s important to keep mattresses out of landfills if possible. If you do end up deciding to chuck your mattress after reading this, donating to local charities is the best option, if it's not recyclable.

Ways you can protect your mattress

Mattresses can be hard to keep clean, given the amount of time we spend in bed. Luckily, there are a few different options to pick between when looking for mattress protection.

Using a mattress protector

A waterproof mattress protector will shield your mattress from moisture, dirt, spills and dust mites. Non-waterproof mattress protectors will help protect from minor spills and stains. A mattress protector goes directly on top of the mattress and covers the top surface. For example, a latex mattress protector would be waterproof and catch spills.

Mattress protectors are the best way to easily protect your mattress, as they can be easily removed and washed quickly. This option is also generally more affordable.

Mattress toppers

A mattress topper provides added comfort to your mattress by noticeably changing the firmness. A thicker topper can add extra cushioning to a firm bed, whereas a firmer topper can make a soft mattress more comfortable and improve your sleep quality.

The best mattress topper can also slow down everyday wear and tear, as well as protect your mattress overall. Some toppers can be used in conjunction with an electric blanket or mattress protector if you feel like you need that extra layer of protection.

Foam toppers

Foam toppers add a higher level of comfort, so these toppers are good if you want more comfort out of your mattress protector. Foam toppers can ease stress within pressure points on your body and respond to your body shape. This alternative gives the mattress more of a ‘bounce’ and improves airflow. Sleeping on a foam topper can even provide therapeutic support while you sleep. Please note, you should not use these in conjunction with an electric blanket.

Memory foam toppers

Memory foam is designed to conform to the natural curves and shapes of your body. It relieves pressure points and maintains correct posture. This means you won’t experience any pain while sleeping and won’t wake up feeling achy.

Another advantage of memory foam toppers is how they minimise motion transfer. If your partner tosses and turns all night, a topper will help to stabilise your side of the bed, so you don’t get woken up. A memory foam topper also works as a layer between your body and the mattress and reduces wear and tear.

Waterproof protectors

Waterproof mattress protectors can prevent more than just water-based stains. Dust, mites and pollen can get trapped in your mattress without a waterproof mattress protector. This may lead to health issues like coughing and sneezing, and poor sleep quality in general.

A waterproof protector can also provide peace of mind for allergy sufferers. A protector may help with accidental spills or stains and ensures the actual mattress doesn’t get ruined. As well as protecting your mattress, a waterproof protector adds an additional layer of softness to your mattress.

The range of mattress protectors and foam toppers at Briscoes

At Briscoes, we have various mattress protectors to suit any bed or lifestyle. Choose from top quality brands, such as;

Alastair’s

Known across New Zealand for comfortable, supportive bedding. They provide high quality linens at an affordable price.

Galaxy

High quality, great value styles that are on trend.

Greenfirst

Designed to help combat conditions like asthma and allergies. They use non-toxic finishing treatments.

These brands, as well as many more, sell a variety of options depending on what you need. If you’re highly sensitive to dust or other allergens, a waterproof, sealed mattress protector may be the perfect option for you. Maybe your mattress is a little too rigid - a mattress topper can soften it up and get you back to sleep. Even if you’re just after some protection for your expensive mattress, a high quality mattress protector will do the trick.

You can find these options and more on the Briscoes website. Order online now for quick delivery, or pop in store and have a chat with one of our bedding experts.

How to clean your mattress

Sometimes, your mattress will get dirty, even with a protector on it. It can be challenging, but there are ways you can clean it. We recommend cleaning your mattress once a season, or at least once every six months. Here are a few of our most effective ways to clean your mattress.

If there are any fresh stains, dab (don’t scrub!) with a clean, dry cloth, and then dampen the cloth and dab the spot where the stain was
You can use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to get rid of the dust that may have built up on the mattress
If there are some stains that just won’t budge, you can try a store-bought stain remover. Just make sure it’s okay to use on the mattress before applying.
You can also use a homemade cleaning mix, like baking powder or dishwashing liquid mixed with water, if you’d prefer
Once you’ve removed any stains or dust, lightly sprinkle some baking soda over the mattress and leave for an hour or so. This can get rid of any stubborn smells and cleans your mattress in general. Simply vacuum it up after leaving it for a bit.

How to know when it’s time to replace your mattress

Eventually, you will need to replace your mattress. Look for visible damage or sagging, and

listen for noisy springs when you’re moving around on the bed. Generally, mattresses will last about eight years. If you’ve had your mattress for this long, you might want to check for damage and consider replacing it. Explore the mattress options available at Briscoes if you think it might be time.

Protect your mattress with Briscoes

A mattress is a big investment and has a significant impact on the quality of your sleep. It’s important to protect big investments, which is where mattress protectors come in handy.

There are many options to choose from, depending on what you’re looking to get out of your sleep. It’s useful to clean your mattress regularly, but a mattress protector or topper will make this job much easier. At Briscoes, we have a huge selection of bedding options, from the mattress, right up to the pillowcases.