How to Wash a Mattress Protector
Updated July 2026
The short answer
Check the label, then wash most protectors on a gentle cycle in cool or warm water with ordinary detergent, and dry them on low heat or on a line. The rule that keeps a waterproof protector waterproof is simple: keep it away from high heat, chlorine bleach, and fabric softener, because all three can damage the thin membrane that does the actual protecting. Put it back on the bed only when it is completely dry.
Before you start
- Read the care label. Waterproof membranes, quilted pads, and allergy encasements can carry very different instructions.
- Close the zipper fully on zippered encasements so the slider and teeth do not batter the drum or other laundry, and check that no hardware is broken or sharp.
- Treat stains first with a fabric-appropriate pretreatment that the protector's label does not prohibit.
- Check size against your machine. A thick queen or king protector that has to be stuffed in cannot rinse properly, and oversized or rigid items may simply exceed a home machine.
- Know what you have: a thin fitted protector, a fluffy quilted pad, a full zippered encasement, or a foam topper. Toppers are not protectors and mostly cannot be machine washed at all.
Steps: washing a mattress protector
- 1Strip it off and shake it out. Take it to the machine before dust and debris migrate.
- 2Wash on a gentle cycle, cool or warm per the label. Hot water is rarely permitted on membrane-backed protectors.
- 3Use a normal dose of regular detergent. No chlorine bleach and no fabric softener; both can degrade waterproof layers, and softener also coats absorbent fabric.
- 4Wash it alone or with sheets, not with anything abrasive. Zippers and rough fabrics grind against the membrane.
- 5Dry on low heat or air dry. High dryer heat is the most common way protectors die: the waterproof layer can stiffen, crack, or peel. Tumble low, pausing to spread the load evenly, or hang it.
- 6Confirm it is bone dry before it goes back on the bed. A damp protector trapped under a fitted sheet is a mildew farm.
Protector types
Waterproof protectors and membrane-backed pads:
The heat-sensitive kind. Gentle wash, low or no dryer heat, no bleach or softener unless that specific label says otherwise.
Quilted mattress pads without waterproofing:
Closer to ordinary bedding; the label often allows warmer washes. Dry thoroughly; thick quilting hides damp spots.
Zippered and allergy or bedbug encasements:
Follow the label closely; some are designed to be washed rarely and gently so the barrier fabric stays intact. Zip fully before washing, and inspect the zipper after: the barrier only works when it closes completely.
Foam mattress toppers:
Different product, different rules: solid foam does not go in a washer. Spot clean and air out instead.
What not to do
- Do not use high heat in the washer or dryer on a waterproof protector.
- Do not use chlorine bleach or fabric softener when the label prohibits them, which for membrane protectors is nearly always.
- Do not iron a protector.
- Do not wash with an open zipper or broken hardware that can gouge the machine or the membrane.
- Do not reinstall it damp.
- Do not force an oversized protector into a small machine; use a larger machine or follow the label's alternative.
What to expect
A protector washed gently survives many cycles with its waterproofing intact. When the backing starts to feel crunchy, look cracked, or peel in flakes, the membrane is failing and no washing technique brings it back; that is replacement time. Testing is easy: a spoonful of water on the protector over a towel should sit or soak in slowly without reaching the towel.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a mattress protector be washed?
Many people wash it every few sheet changes, and promptly after spills, accidents, or illness. It needs washing less often than sheets because it does not touch your skin all night.
Can a waterproof protector go in the dryer?
Usually yes on low heat if the label allows it. The danger setting is high heat, which can crack or melt the waterproof layer.
Is my protector still waterproof after lots of washes?
Probably, if it was dried gently and the backing still feels supple. Test with a little water over a towel; if moisture gets through, replace it.
What is the difference between a protector and an encasement?
A protector covers the sleeping surface; an encasement zips around the entire mattress, usually for allergen or bedbug control, and its label tends to ask for gentler, less frequent washing.
Accident got past the protector? The Stain Rescue Tool covers mattress stains step by step.
Use the Stain Rescue Tool