Mattress Protectors: Molton, Waterproof, or Encasing?

Which mattress protector is right for which need?

The right mattress protector depends on what you want to protect your mattress from: sweat and everyday dirt, spills, or—if you have allergies—dust mites.

The consumer magazine K-Tipp notes: A molton pad or mattress protector protects the mattress. First, figure out what you need:

• Sweat and everyday dirt: A molton protector. The cotton absorbs moisture, and the protector goes in the wash. It is not waterproof.
• Beverages and other liquids: A waterproof mattress protector. Beneath its surface is a polyurethane barrier layer that keeps liquids away from the mattress.
• Children and Pets: This is also a waterproof mattress protector. The product pages list cribs, bedwetting, and pets as intended uses, and it is also available in sizes 60 × 120 and 70 × 140 cm.
• Incontinence: A protective product with a barrier layer and an absorbent layer on top, used as a pad, a liner, or an encasing. For more information, see the section on incontinence.
• House dust mite allergy: An encasing—that is, a cover that completely encloses the mattress. See the “Encasing” section for recommendations from allergy organizations.

The table shows what the four types of mattress protectors offer. It compares their construction, not individual products:

Is an absorbent mattress protector also waterproof?

No: "Absorbent" means that the fabric absorbs moisture; "waterproof" means that no liquid passes through it. One does not imply the other.

The Mara Vital molton mattress protector makes all the difference: It’s made of 100% cotton and doesn’t have a plastic moisture barrier. According to the product page, it absorbs a lot of moisture but isn’t completely waterproof. The same goes for the molton fitted sheet, which is put on like a fitted sheet: It absorbs moisture and isn’t waterproof.

Molton is designed to handle sweat and everyday dirt: The protector absorbs moisture and goes in the laundry. If liquid is spilled, it can seep through the fabric and reach the mattress. To prevent this, a barrier layer is needed.

Molton and waterproofing are not mutually exclusive: There is molton that has a waterproof coating on the underside. In this case, “molton” refers to the surface, while the coating serves as the barrier layer.

You can find the Molton mattress protector and its dimensions in the " Size and Fastening" section.

What makes a mattress protector waterproof?

A barrier layer beneath the surface makes a mattress protector waterproof: in Mara Vital’s mattress protectors, this is a polyurethane membrane, layer, or coating.

Without a barrier layer, liquid can seep through the fabric and reach the mattress. With it, the liquid stays on top of the mattress until you remove the protector and wash it.

What Types There Are

Waterproof mattress protectors differ in terms of their surface and how much of the mattress they cover. Five styles from the Mara Vital line:

• Terry cloth over a membrane: A terry cloth surface with a polyurethane membrane underneath. The mattress protector lies on top of the mattress and is secured at the corners with elastic bands.
• Cotton with a polyurethane layer: cotton on top, a thin layer of polyurethane on the side facing the mattress, also with elastic bands at the four corners.
• Coated molton: Cotton molton with a waterproof coating on the underside.
• Pad with absorbent fleece: A smaller pad consisting of four layers: polyester on top and bottom, with an absorbent fleece and a layer of waterproof polyurethane in between. It covers part of the sleeping surface.
• Encasing with a membrane: A cover with a zipper all the way around, cotton terry cloth on top, and a polyurethane membrane on the underside. It encloses the mattress rather than lying on top of it.

Waterproof and breathable

A fabric can be both waterproof and breathable. Stiftung Warentest explains how this works for functional clothing: Hydrophilic membranes, such as those made of polyurethane, have no pores. Their molecules absorb water vapor and allow it to pass through the membrane, while water droplets cannot penetrate due to their size. Coatings are usually made of polyurethane and either have micropores through which water vapor escapes or function like a pore-free membrane.

Whether a fabric is waterproof and how much water vapor it allows to pass through are two separate properties, and there is a specific test for each. The ISO 811 standard describes a water-pressure test: it determines how well a fabric resists the penetration of water. The ISO 11092 standard describes how to measure a material’s resistance to heat and water vapor, including for films, coatings, and multilayer structures.

Several Mara Vital product pages describe their waterproof mattress protector as breathable. According to the product page, in the case of the waterproof encasing, it is the polyurethane membrane itself that is breathable. If the sleeping environment is important to you, check the construction when making a purchase: Which layer is the barrier layer, and which surface is on top of it?

Limitations of this guide: The term “waterproof” does not indicate whether you’ll sleep warmer or cooler on a waterproof mattress protector, and we haven’t found any measurements on this. The ISO 11092 standard also states that its test conditions do not simulate a specific comfort scenario. For information on how the layers of a bed affect temperature, see the guide “Sleep Cooler.”

All waterproof models are listed in the " Mattress Protectors" category; a selection of them, along with their dimensions, can be found in the " Size and Attachment" section.

When is an encasing the right product?

A mattress encasing is the right choice if you want the mattress to be completely enclosed, especially if you have a dust mite allergy: It completely covers the mattress and fastens with a zipper.

That's the difference between this and a mattress protector: A protector lies on top of the mattress and covers the sleeping surface, while a fitted molton sheet also covers the sides. Neither completely encloses the mattress.

According to the Federal Environment Agency, dust mites are found primarily in mattresses, comforters, and old upholstered furniture. aha! Allergy Center Switzerland recommends using dust mite-proof covers for mattresses, pillows, and comforters if you have a dust mite allergy, and identifies this as a key measure for reducing exposure. The German Allergy and Asthma Association also recommends covering the mattress with an allergen-proof cover.

According to the German Association of Allergists, clinical studies show that mattress encasings can significantly reduce allergen levels in the sleeping area and thus alleviate asthma symptoms.

The Association of German Allergists describes what is important when setting up the system:

• Completely enclosed: An encasing completely encloses the mattress. A fitted sheet is not sufficient for this.
• Seams and zippers: Small openings often occur in these areas. They must be covered so that no allergens can penetrate.
• Fabric: Woven, uncoated fabric is generally more breathable than nonwoven fabric. The polyurethane coating that was commonly used in the past is no longer necessary for a mite-proof cover.
• Laundry: An encasing must be washable at 60 degrees or higher.

You can check whether an encasing is leak-proof: The Hohenstein Testing Institute tests whether dust mite allergens can pass through the fabric, seams, and zippers. Ask for proof of this when you buy one.

According to the manufacturer, the allsana Encasing sensitive care from the Mara Vital line meets this standard: The Hohenstein Institute has tested and certified the material, seams, and zippers for resistance to dust mite allergens. You can find this information in the " Size and Fastening" section.

Not every encasing is waterproof. Mara Vital offers two designs: a cover made of finely woven microfiber, which its product page describes as mite-proof and a reliable protective barrier against dust mites and allergens, and a cover with terry cloth on top and a polyurethane membrane on the underside that blocks liquids. Both are listed in the “Size and Fastening” section.

What an encasing is not: It is one of several measures and is no substitute for a medical evaluation. According to aha! Allergy Center Switzerland, dust mites cannot be completely eliminated; the goal is to significantly reduce their presence.

What are the key considerations when choosing a mattress protector for incontinence?

When it comes to incontinence products, three things matter: the construction—consisting of an absorbent layer and a barrier layer—the area the product covers, and the temperature at which it can be washed.

• Construction: An absorbent layer absorbs the liquid, while the barrier layer underneath keeps it away from the mattress. The Mara Vital incontinence pad has four layers: polyester on top and bottom, with an absorbent nonwoven fabric and a layer of waterproof polyurethane in between.
• Covered Area: The pad is available in sizes ranging from 40 × 50 to 90 × 160 cm and protects the surface on which it rests. A waterproof mattress protector covers the sleeping surface, while a waterproof encasing encloses the mattress.
• Care: According to their product pages, Mara Vital’s mattress pad, terry cloth protector, and waterproof encasing can be washed at 90 or 95 °C and put in the dryer. Always follow the care label on the product.

The dimensions of the pad and the waterproof encasing are listed in the " Size and Attachment" section.

How do I wash a mattress protector?

Wash a mattress protector according to the instructions on its care label: The number in the washing machine drum indicates the maximum washing temperature in degrees Celsius, and you must not exceed it.

There is no single temperature that works for all protectors. The information provided on Mara Vital's product pages depends on the design:

• Cotton flannel: Machine washable up to 95 °C and dryer-safe. It will reach its final size after the first wash.
• Cotton with a polyurethane coating: Wash up to 60 °C; tumble dry on low heat; do not iron.
• Terry cloth over a membrane: 90 °C in the product page description, 95 °C in the product specifications; suitable for the dryer. In this case, the label on the product is the deciding factor.
• Encasing: According to their product pages, Mara Vital's mite-proof and waterproof covers are washable at temperatures up to 95 °C.

Aha! The Swiss Allergy Center recommends washing mite-proof covers according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually once or twice a year. The Association of German Allergists recommends washing them as infrequently as possible—twice a year—to ensure the material remains effective.

The bedding that goes over the mattress protector is washed more often: I see! The Swiss Allergy Center recommends washing it every week at a temperature of at least 60 degrees if you have a dust mite allergy.

We haven't found any documented figures on how often a protector that isn't an encasing should be washed. Wash it if it has absorbed any liquid, and otherwise as needed.

What size and mounting option are right for my mattress?

The mattress protector must fit the three dimensions of your mattress: width, length, and height. The way it is secured determines how much of the mattress it covers.

• Width and Length: For mattress protectors and encasings, the size specification refers to the mattress, not the dimensions of the protector. The protector itself may vary by a few centimeters, as noted on the product page for the cotton mattress protector with a polyurethane layer.
• Mattress height: According to their product pages, the mattress protectors with corner elastic bands fit mattresses up to 28 or 30 cm high, depending on the model, while the Molton fitted sheet fits mattresses up to 20 cm high. With an encasing, you choose the exact height: According to the product page, the dust-mite-proof cover has very little elasticity.
• Corner straps: Elastic straps at the four corners hold the mattress protector in place on the mattress. It covers the entire sleeping surface.
• Elastic all around: The molton fitted sheet is put on like a fitted sheet and covers the sides as well.
• Zipper: An encasing is pulled over the entire mattress and zipped closed all around.

The available sizes for each model are listed on its product page. Here are the six models covered in this guide: