Here at Two Moms Review we are mattress protector advocates. People don’t really think about mattress protectors enough, but they’re one of those things that you should get any time you buy a mattress. It keeps you protected – sort of like buying a bike helmet if you own a bike or a case when you buy a new phone.

It seems a shame to spend a lot of money on your brand new mattress and then leave it unprotected, especially if you have children or pets in your bed. You’ve got urine, and vomit, pee, blood, hair, sweat and even dead skill cells and bacteria. The second something like these things hit your mattress, that bacteria gets in and your mattress starts to break down. It won’t last as long. It can develop smells.

You can’t throw your mattress into the washer, pull it out again and hang it up to dry. You can do that with a mattress protector. Wait, unless it’s this baby mattress.

Check Top Sellers on Amazon

The first thing you should ask is what type of mattress protector you want:

• 5-sided mattress protector which covers everything, even the bottom of the mattress and totally encases it, usually with a zipper. Harder to remove for washing but keeps more things out.
• 4-sided mattress protector which covers the top and sides but not the bottom.
• Top only which doesn’t cover the sides, only the top of your mattress (least expensive but if you spill anything on the side of your mattress it will likely damage/stain your mattress).

Best Mattress Protector

Before you even sleep on your mattress you should cover it. After you clean a mattress (see our tutorial, how to get pee out of a mattress) you should cover it with a mattress protector.

So what is the best mattress protector? We really love this high quality waterproof, noiseless mattress protector, and will protect your bed wash after wash. You spend a lot on a mattress and once it gets liquid or other substances inside it starts to eat away at the foam and inside of your mattress. A mattress protector will prolong your bed’s life, be more sanitary and keep it smelling good too.

A mattress protector is like a fitted sheet and should have these qualities:

• Keeps the original feel of the mattress
• Doesn’t build up heat and make your mattress sleep hotter
• Make noise when you move like a shower curtain or stiff plastic might – you should not even know it’s there

Spills will stay on top of the mattress where they can be wiped off, will be absorbed into the bedding or your PJs, and washed off. If you want something that protects sheets, try their sheet protectors which actually absorb and hold liquid.

We want to talk about the good, better, and best mattress protectors. We’ll start with our 3rd pick and move to the top one.

Top Pick #1: The Coop T0p Only Waterproof Mattress Protector

This is the best seller, a lot of people get this because of the combination of price and quality.

• Smooth top
• Attractive entry-level price point.
• Protects the top only. It will not protect the sides.
• Waterproof.
• Breathable fabric, it won’t keep you hot at night or change the feel of your mattress but it will protect from spills on the top.

It has one-sided protection. It does have sides, but they are not waterproof, just the very top is waterproof. It fits onto your mattress just like a fitted sheet, so it’s easy to get on and off.

Verdict: It’s better than nothing and does a great job of protecting the top of your mattress. If you’re pretty clean, never eat in bed, and don’t need anything else, this mattress protector is a great buy. They give you 100 day trial which means you can return it for a full refund in that timeframe.

Top Pick #2 Sleep Tite All Sides Waterproof Mattress Protector

If you want the sides of the bed covered too, then you’ll want this 5-sided mattress protector from Malouf. It’s like our previous one except better – it covers the top of your mattress AND all sides. The front and the sides are all waterproof, in case a spill or a child wets the bed and it goes onto the sides. If you spill something and it runs off the edge of the bed, you’re covered. This is a solid mattress protector and we recommend it if your bed gets a lot of crumbs or is full of people or pets.

This one also has elastic and is fitted like a sheet. It covers all 4 sides of your bed plus the top – hence it’s called a 5-sided mattress protector.

Verdict: This mattress protector covers all 5 sides and is ideal if you want more coverage but aren’t worried about bed bugs or dust mites. This would be ideal for putting on after you cleaned pee out of a mattress. Click here to read our post for a simple effective way to get pee out of a mattress.

 Click here to see this on Amazon –> SLEEP TITE 5 Sided 100% Waterproof Hypoallergenic Mattress Protector with 15-year Warranty – Queen Size 

 Need a new mattress? Check out our Nectar Mattress Review.  

Top Pick #3 Sleep Tite Bed Bug Resistant Mattress Protector

All Sides Covered and Encased Mattress Protector with Zipper

This mattress protector covers the entire mattress, even underneath. It’s not only waterproof but it keeps out dust mites. If you’re in an area where bedbugs are a concern or if you don’t want to take the chance of one grabbing hold of your luggage and coming home with you, this mattress protector is the best choice.

It’s an encasement protector so, this zips on and off and it’s all encased completely so nothing can get through at all. This is good if you are worried about bed bugs or anything like that, or if you’re just a really OCD person, like some of us are. It will protect you really well.

All of these Malouf mattress protectors come in standard sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King. It zips on and off so the bottom stays on your bed, you unzip the top and wash it.

They are a universal fit to accommodate all heights of mattresses (6″-22″ depths). The protectors are machine washable but you must dry them on low heat or you’ll ruin the protective fabric. We recommend you air dry your mattress protector.

Verdict: This mattress protector covers all 5 sides and is ideal if you want more coverage but aren’t worried about bed bugs or dust mites. This would be ideal for putting on after you cleaned pee out of a mattress.

Mattress Protectors on Amazon

Our favorite mattress protector on Amazon is the Reicci waterproof bamboo mattress protector (see our Recci review here).
Discount Code: Use code RECCICOVER to save 30% off any size.

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Best Cheap Mattress Protector – Under $20

If budget is a concern, Amazon’s AmazonBasics brand mattress protector is a good choice. They are under $20 for all sizes and get good (not great) reviews.

• Comes in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and Cal King sizes.
• Fits mattresses up to 18 inches deep.
• Good choice for a sofa bed but we can’t recommend it for kids or a bed that needs to be waterproof. Though it claims to be waterproof, many report that it isn’t.
• Good to prevent crumbs from getting on the mattress, and to help keep it clean.
• No zipper.

AmazonBasics Hypoallergenic Vinyl-Free Waterproof Mattress Protector, Twin-XL

BONUS: We have since discovered and LOVE the Purple mattress protector. It’s so easy to put on, stays put, is waterproof, and quiet. It also stretches so it flexes when you move instead of popping off the corners. It’s pricier than our other picks Check out the Purple mattress protector here.

It’s $99 for a queen. Here’s how it’s different: it’s stretchy. The stretch is to allow it to be flexible and move with your Purple mattress (the most unique mattress we’ve reviewed and a top choice).

There you have it – our top mattress protector picks. What is yours?