A good quality mattress is not a small investment, and given it is where you sleep every night, you want it to be as clean, safe, and healthy for your body as possible. You also want that investment to last!
Protecting your mattress, and your sleeping environment, with a mattress encasement is a smart move for some. But do you need one, and if so, which of the mattress encasements on the market is the best choice?
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If you’re short in time, here’s our top mattress encasement picks in every category.
- Brooklyn Bedding ~Best Overall
- Hospitology ~Best for Deep Mattresses
- Utopia Bedding ~Best for Kids
- PlushDeluxe ~Best for Hot Sleepers
- Everest Supply ~Best Budget Pick
What is the Difference Between a Protector and an Encasement?
When considering the best way to protect your investment in a high-quality mattress it is not hard to get confused by all the choices available, including the difference between a mattress protector and a mattress encasement.
That is understandable, as the two are similar and are designed to do similar things. However, they are similar but not the same.
Mattress protectors are placed on top of the bed and fit in a way that is similar to a fitted sheet. They are designed to protect against excessive dirt, grime, and dust, as well as accidental spills, the reason most pf them are waterproof.
A mattress encasement does exactly what its name suggests it does. It encases the whole mattress, typically using a zipper enclosure, fitting like a ‘second skin’ for your bed, while still allowing the materials underneath to breathe. These are more durable than the average mattress protector, and, it should be noted, more expensive and trickier to get on and off.
However, mattress encasements protect against dust, dirt, allergens, dust mites and even bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) in a way that mattress protectors cannot. They also resist fluids and spills exceptionally well. This is why most hotels make use of them, as well as nursing homes.
Those who choose a mattress encasement over a mattress protector are usually worried about protecting an especially costly mattress – some can run into the thousands to buy – and want to create a sleeping environment that is as clean as possible, and, importantly as we’ll explain soon, is pest free.
Best Bedbug Mattress Encasements Reviews
If you decide you are interested in investing in a mattress encasement which, should you choose? The answer to that question will depend on your needs, preferences, and budget, but to help get your search off to a good start here’s a look at our top five choices of the best bed bug mattress covers.
Overall Best Mattress Encasement: Brooklyn Bedding
Why we love it: This mattress encasement goes on easy yet protects completely. What’s not to love?
Brooklyn Bedding are a trusted name in bedding in general, and this mattress encasement is designed with their usual high standards in mind. Even though it is waterproof and provides a tight seal between your mattress and its environment it is still soft, so your sleep ‘feel’ will not change a bit, and it will not rustle or make strange noises that might disturb your sleep.
Available in sizes Twin through California King.
Pros: Easy to put on the mattress and easy to get off; zippered for complete 360-degree mattress protection; soft and breathable; completely waterproof; resistant to shrinkage; machine washable,
Cons: Some consumers would have liked to see a snugger fit; some complained of a slight “plasticky feel” but that’s the case with with most mattress encasements.
Get the Brooklyn Bedding Encasement here
Best Encasement for Deep Mattresses: HOSPITOLOGY
Why We Love This: Beg bug protection that is trusted by hotels and hospitals.
Some mattresses are deeper than others, and while that may suit your sleeping preferences, finding fitted bedding that actually fits can be a challenge. As a snug fit is crucial for bed bug protection getting the right size mattress encasement is a must. The
HOSPITOLOGY Sleep Defense System is available in a wide range of sizes, including deep – to help you ensure that.
Preferred by hotels and hospitals this encasement is highly effective in not only protecting against bug infestations but also against liquids, even in higher volumes.
Pros: fits even very deep mattresses, is durable but breathable; can protect against a higher volume of liquid.
Cons: some consumers say they feel it affects their mattress’ cooling properties and makes sleeping feel hotter.
Get the HOSPITOLOGY Encasement on Amazon
Best Mattress Encasement for Kids: Utopia Bedding
Why we love it: This is a mattress protector that can stand up to any and all challenges kids can dish out!
Kids spill drinks, kids can get very grimy (even after an evening bath), and many children do have nighttime accidents with bedwetting. The Utopia Bedding Zippered Mattress Encasement protects against all of these things, as well as against dust and bed bugs, things you certainly do not want anywhere near your children, especially if they are prone to allergies.
Pros: Sized for twin mattresses, easy to get on and off; washable and breathable; completely waterproof
Cons: Some parents said their children complained the bed was hotter with the protector in place.
Buy the Utopia Mattress Encasement on Amazon
Best Cooling Encasement: PlushDeluxe
Why we love it: This mattress encasement will not interfere with your mattress’ cooling features and even adds some of its own.
One of the complaints some people have about mattress encasements in general, even the very good ones, is that they lessen the effectiveness of their mattress’ built-in cooling features and make the bed sleep hot.
This option is crafted using cooling cotton and while it encases the mattress completely does not diminish its cooling power and will not generate more heat.
Pros: Very cooling in itself; will not interfere with a mattress’ cooling features; fits well and provides 360-degree protection against dust and bed bugs.
Cons: Is more expensive than some of the other options on our list.
Get the PlushDeluxe Encasement on Amazon
Best Budget Mattress Encasement: Everest Supply
Why we love it: If you do not want to spend too much on a mattress encasement this is a great choice.
If you have an RV, or a guest bedroom, the mattresses there may not be used often, and may be left standing empty for some time. An expensive mattress protector might not make sense for them, but you should still protect them from dust and bugs. Although not waterproof, this budget choice does provide 360 protection that will help keep lesser used mattresses in great shape.
Pros: Provides snug, lightweight 360 mattress protection; is very affordable; easy to put on and get off.
Cons: Is only water resistant, not waterproof.
Buy the Everest Supply Encasement on Amazon
Do Mattress Encasements Really Work?
When they fit properly, mattress encasements do indeed work very well, even against the notoriously annoying bed bugs that can become such a nuisance – and such a health hazard – if they are allowed to infest a mattress.
The key is in getting a snug fit, so that should always be one of your most important mattress encasement shopping considerations, no matter which brand you choose.
How Can You Tell if a Mattress Has Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are more than just ugly looking creatures. They are, quite literally, one of the vampires of the bug kingdom, and love nothing more than sucking blood from any nearby warm body – human or animal – on a regular basis if allowed to. That is why the thought of sleeping on a mattress that has bed bugs is so distasteful to well, everyone.
Bed bugs are also very small, and do not fly, so can be hard to spot. There are some ways you can tell if they are present in a mattress though, including all the following:
Visual confirmation: The easiest way to tell if a mattress has bed bugs is visual confirmation, as in you see one. To the naked eye these nasty critters look small, oval shaped and a reddish brown in color (the redder they are, the more they’ve fed.
Fecal stains: Another clue to bed bugs are fecal stain found on your mattress and bedding.
Rust colored stains: If they are accidentally squished (by the person sleeping on them) rust-colored stains will be left behind on the mattress, as may tiny exoskeletons, although those are much harder to spot and look like little black dots.
Blood spots on nightclothes: Bed bugs feed on your blood, so odd blood spots on your bedclothes or sheets are another sign that bed bugs may be interfering with your sleep (and your body.)
Bites: This might seem like the most obvious sign of bed bugs, but it can be very hard to distinguish bed bug bites from mosquito bites, which are very common in the summer, or even from flea bites. Generally, however bed bug bites are small, round welts that are very itchy or burning and tend to be bright red. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it can take up to 14 days for a bite to appear.
Where to look: In the bedroom, box springs, headboards and bed framing are some of the favorite spots for these pesky pests. You might also find them nestled into furniture and fixtures that are close to a bed.
How to Remove Bed Bugs from a Mattress
Everyone wants to find a quick, easy solution to bug infestations of any kind, from fleas your dog brought in to annoying moths and mosquitoes following the lights inside your home to bed bugs.
Bed bugs however are notoriously challenging to deal with, however. You cannot get rid of them with over-the-counter bug sprays and powders and while you will find lots of ‘natural remedies’ online none of them actually work. The fact is that when it comes to bed bugs, you must go pro.
Before you call in the pest control professionals however, there are some mistakes to be avoided, including:
Panicking: Don’t panic. As soon as the pest control folks do their work the bed bugs will be gone.
Trying DIY Fixes: OTC bug sprays are unlikely to kill many bed bugs, and may, instead, just cause them to spread out across your mattress. Here’s other home remedies that DO NOT work:
- dryer sheets
- mothballs
- rubbing alcohol
- ultrasonic pest reppellers
- essential oils
- foggers
Save the home remedies for mosquitoes and other, easier to deal with alone pests like moths and houseflies.
Throwing Out All Your Belongings: Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to throw out all your stuff. Once the pest pros have exterminated the bed bugs you will be able to launder and heat treat your bedding, steam clean your carpets and your mattress and then invest in a good mattress encasement to prevent them from returning again.
Here’s a few home remedies you can try to get rid of bed bugs or at least considerably diminish their population.
- Crush them and flush them.
- Wash and dry your bedding on the hottest setting.
- Vaccum your mattress, bed frame, nearby furniture, base boards an carpet.
- Declutter your bedroom to remove their hiding spots.
- Hire professionals to permanently get rid of bed bugs.