Whether you’re in the market for a new mattress or not, it’s time to think about PROTECTION. I’m sure some of you have already been in the position of cleaning a mattress. It’s not an easy task when you know what you’re cleaning and can see it… and it’s an even more difficult task when you start to think about all of the things that need to be cleaned out of your mattress that you cannot see!

Lots of allergens and dust mites take up residence in your mattress. Why? Simply because mattresses tend to provide a great environment for critters. They hold body heat, skin flakes and perspiration. The hot, moist and nutritious surroundings allow allergens and dust mites to thrive. They feed on skin flakes that you lose as you toss and turn in the sheets. They also feed on body fluid. Adults tend to lose roughly one half-liter of moisture every night as they sleep. All of this adds up to a lot of extra allergic material in your mattress. You breathe in the allergens and dust mite feces as you sleep. This can cause a slight tickle in your nose… or a more severe respiratory issue. Some people are more sensitive than others and some allergies can occur almost overnight. The best thing we can do to combat the critters is protect ourselves.

We always recommend a mattress protector. Many stores sell them and there are many different types available. The main goal of a protector is to provide an impenetrable barrier between you and the mattress. This accomplishes two goals; keeping the mattress free of new biologic material and keeping the existing biologic material from affecting you or continuing to prosper. This barrier comes in many different forms. It can be attached to a mattress pad, designed to add cushion and alter the surface feel of the mattress. It can also be as thin as a fitted sheet so as not to alter the feel of a mattress. It can be attached to a microfiber designed to repel moisture or a cotton terry, designed to absorb it. The type of protector is a personal choice. At Holder Mattress, we recommend a cotton terry protector (retailing between $49.95 and $109.95 depending upon size). We like the cotton terry for absorbing moisture. We also like protectors that don’t alter the feel of a mattress. We spend a lot of time selecting the mattress feel we prefer, so adding a mattress pad could change that feel. We like protectors that use a thin polyurethane barrier that is breathable. The material allows smaller molecules to pass through, deadening noise and allowing temperature neutrality, but not larger molecules like moisture or dust mites. There are all-encasing protectors that enclose the mattress in a zippered cover. We prefer the protectors that fit on with an elastic skirt, like a fitted sheet. The protector will trap all the harmful materials, but if you never remove it to wash it and sterilize it, you are still wallowing in the dust mites and allergens, and though your mattress is clean, you aren’t. A protector that isn’t all-encasing is much easier to remove and wash regularly, which means it happens more often. A protector is washable, a mattress isn’t. That is why protectors exist.

Whether it’s a master bedroom set, kids room set or guest room set… all sets need to be protected. I can no longer count how many phone calls I’ve received asking about a good way to clean a mattress after one mishap or another… and truth be told, there is not a good way to clean a mattress. That is why Protection really is the best medicine.
Keep submitting your questions to me at ltaylor@holdermattress.com for more information on anything and everything mattress!