What Is Molton? How It's Made, How to Wash It, and Whether It's Waterproof

Is molton waterproof?

No, not on its own: Cotton molton absorbs moisture but does not reliably keep liquids in. According to biberna, a molton pad protects against friction and light moisture, but only a membrane can completely keep liquids in.

Molton only becomes waterproof when a second layer is added. Here's how the three types differ:

• Molton alone: According to the product page, the Molton Natural Mattress Protector and the Molton Fitted Sheet absorb moisture—the protector even absorbs a lot of it. Neither is waterproof.
• Coated on the underside: According to the product page, the waterproof Molton mattress protector has a water-impermeable coating on the underside.
• With a liner or membrane: biberna places a waterproof liner between two layers of cotton so that it doesn't touch the skin, or adds a membrane to the pad.

Read more in the guide

Mattress Protectors: Molton, Waterproof, or Encasing?

Which mattress protector is right for your needs.

Washing Molton: What temperature should I use, and does it shrink?

According to the product page, all seven Mara Vital Molton products can be washed at temperatures up to 95 °C. This does not apply to every Molton product: biberna washes its waterproof pads at 60 °C to ensure the membrane remains watertight. The number shown in the washing tub icon on the care label indicates the maximum temperature you must not exceed. When it comes to the dryer, they differ:

• Tumble-dry safe: the four Molton mattress protectors with elastic corners in natural and white, and the waterproof Molton mattress protector, according to the product page.
• Dryer not specified: the Molton mattress protector with elastic corners and the Molton fitted sheet. Follow the care instructions on their labels.

"It fits just right after the first wash": That's what the product pages say; they talk about the ideal size or the perfect fit. One page notes that the item shrinks slightly during this process. None of them specify by what percentage.

Don't use fabric softener: According to biberna, it reduces the absorbency of Molton.

How is molton made?

Molton is made of cotton, densely woven, and brushed on both sides: that is how the dictionary and the weaver biberna describe it.

biberna describes the raising process for its Biber bedding, a cotton fabric that is also raised on both sides: First, the fabric is woven tightly; then, fine hook rollers pull individual fiber ends from the fabric to the surface. This creates a soft, fluffy layer known as the pile.

The weave depends on the type. According to the Vienna-based stage textile manufacturer Tüchler, decorative molton weighing 130 to 190 grams per square meter is usually woven in plain weave. The manufacturer Gerriets offers heavy-duty stage molton weighing 300 to 325 grams in twill weave.

At Mara Vital, the mattress protector category features seven products made of molton (as of October 17, 2026). None of the product pages list the weight per square meter; only the molton fitted sheet specifies the weave: twill.

Is molton breathable, or do you sweat in it?

According to biberna, yes, but none of our sources have measured this: neither how much air a molton sheet lets through nor whether you sweat more on a molton sheet. The sheet goes between the mattress and the bedsheet, not directly against the skin.

In one test, the brushed fabric allowed more air to pass through and provided better insulation: Brushed denim was compared to the same fabric that had not been brushed.

What the measurement doesn't show: The measurement was taken on denim, a woven cotton fabric, not molton.

Speaking about his beaver bedding, biberna writes: “The roughened fibers trap many small air pockets, and still air provides good insulation. Beaver bedding is therefore less suitable if you sweat heavily at night or sleep in a room warmer than 20 °C.” Biberna does not specify whether this also applies to a bed protector placed under the sheet.

Molton, flannel, or corduroy: What distinguishes these three textured fabrics?

Molton and Biber describe the fabrics in almost identical terms: made of cotton, tightly woven, and brushed on both sides. They are distinguished primarily by their use; “flannel” is the more general term:

• Molton: used by Mara Vital as a mattress protector, as well as on stages and in movie theaters.
• Beaver: not a type of fabric in itself, but a finish used for bedding. According to Biberna, a good beaver fabric weighs about 160 g per square meter.
• Flannel: generally, a brushed fabric, often woven in a twill weave.

What else is molton used for besides bedding?

On stages and in movie theaters: Molton absorbs light and sound. According to Tüchler, theaters, movie theaters, and concert halls typically use black, flame-retardant stage molton weighing about 300 grams per square meter. The dictionary also lists diapers and pads.

Not all molton is made of pure cotton: Gerriets, a manufacturer of stage textiles, offers stage molton made from recycled yarn and another made from 100% polyester, which is permanently flame-retardant.

Filling for Duvets and Pillows