Why a mattress protector is the best $79 you'll spend

A mattress is one of the few things you use for eight hours a night for a decade. Protecting it is a rounding error on the price — as long as you buy the right kind.

Water-resistant covers slow a spill down; given time, liquid still soaks through. Waterproof protectors have a real membrane behind the fabric, so spills, sweat and accidents never reach the mattress. With kids, pets or a new mattress, buy fully waterproof.

Cheap waterproof covers use solid plastic (PVC). It works, but it traps heat and crinkles every time you move. A breathable membrane blocks liquid while letting body heat and vapour pass through — so you don't sleep hot, and it stays silent.

Measure your mattress height first. A 30 cm skirt fits most modern mattresses, including thick pocket-spring ones. A shallow protector pops off a tall mattress every night.

Machine-wash at 60°C to sanitise, tumble dry low, never iron the membrane side. Treated well, a quality protector easily outlasts the mattress warranty it's protecting.