Sleepopolis is supported by readers. Product links on Sleepopolis are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something Sleepopolis makes a little bit of money. See how it all works here.Do I need a mattress pad or mattress protector for my new Casper, Tuft & Needle, Leesa, Saatva, or other online mattress? This is by far one of the most common questions I receive on my blog, and it’s long over due for a quick question and answer post. First off, it’s important to note the differences between mattress pads and mattress protectors. A mattress pad is a relatively thick piece of quilted material that sits on top of your mattress, but below your sheets. A mattress pad can help to protect your mattress to some degree from general wear and tear, and help reduce allergens, but in general you’d purchase a mattress pad to add comfort to your mattress. The primary reason I would suggest buying a mattress pad is because you’re unhappy with your current mattress and a mattress pad can be a nice short term solution to add comfort to an older or uncomfortable mattress.
If you’re buying a brand new mattress, whether it’s foam, innerspring, or otherwise, there is really no need to purchase a mattress pad. Mattress toppers would be a similar option if you’re seeking a temporary solution to add comfort, but that’s another blog post. A mattress protector also sits directly on the surface of your mattress, but below your sheets. It’s similar to a fitted sheet in the way it covers the mattress. They are generally made from cotton, polyester, or other materials, and are designed to help repel liquid and prevent other sources of damage (dirt, dust, allergens, etc). The most common use for a mattress protector is simply as a liquid resistant protector. In the event you were to spill a drink, have an accident prone child or pet, or have a sexy-times accident, the mattress protector will help to ensure your expensive mattress stays fresh, clean, and unsoiled. I would highly recommend a mattress protector to anyone who is purchasing a new mattress, or already owns a mattress without a mattress protector.
They are an inexpensive way to ensure your mattress stays nice for years. Most mattress protectors are fairly thin. They don’t have to be thick to do their job if they are made well. As such, they have very little impact in terms of the feel and comfort of the mattress they are on. My wife and I have been using a pretty good and inexpensive mattress protector we purchased from Amazon when we bought our mattress. We’ve slept several times with it off to get a sense of the feel and I cannot tell any noteworthy difference in feel, comfort, or sound when the mattress protector is on vs. with it off. In addition to protecting your mattress from damage, liquids, etc. they can also aid in reducing allergens, dust mites, and asthma issues. If you have an older mattress that you’re not terribly happy with I would recommend a mattress pad. Mattress pads are an inexpensive way to add a little life to older or otherwise uncomfortable mattresses. If it’s a new mattress, there is no need to purchase a mattress pad (assuming you are happy with the mattress).
A mattress protector on the other hand is all but required. It’s inexpensive, protects your investment, has no visible impact, and shouldn’t dramatically change the way the mattress feels. In my book it’s a no brainer. Below are my favorite mattress protectors and mattress pads:Sleep Tite Quilted Queen Mattress Pad with Damask Cover and Down Alternative Fill Set your store to see localavailability Twin XL Quilted Mattress Pad with Damask Cover and Down Alternative FillQueen Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Pad King Quilted Mattress Pad with Damask Cover and Down Alternative Fill Full Quilted Mattress Pad with Damask Cover and Down Alternative Fill Twin Quilted Mattress Pad with Damask Cover and Down Alternative FillQueen Memory Foam Mattress PadQueen Gel Memory Foam Mattress Pad Twin Size 4 in. H Down and Duck Feather Mattress Topper Queen Size 4 in. Memory Plus 3 in. Full Memory Foam and Fiber Mattress PadCalifornia King Gel Swirl Mattress Pad
Twin Size 3 in. Down Alternative Mattress Topper Angeland Queen Size 3 in. Goose Down Alternative Mattress Topper Lucid Queen Hybrid Down Alternative + Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress PadGel Memory Foam Mattress Topper with Nano-Tex Coolest Comfort Cover Full Size 4 in. Ventilated Temperature-Regulating Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper with CoverQueen Gel Memory Foam 7-Zone Mattress Pad King Size 4 in. Queen Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Pad Cal King Quilted Mattress Pad with Damask Cover and Down Alternative FillMemory Foam Mattress Topper Queen Size 3 in. Set your store to see localavailabilityHow to Wash a Mattress Pad imageWashing a mattress pad, even a down one, is not as complicated as it might seem at first. The first place to look for instructions about cleaning is always the care tag attached to the mattress pad. Read More about How to Wash a Mattress Pad Jump to: navigation, search A mattress pad, mattress topper, or underpad is designed to lie atop a mattress.
Made primarily from foam, its function is to provide a layer of comfort and warmth between the user and the mattress. It is of particular benefit when the existing mattress is worn or uncomfortable. Toppers quite often have a contoured profile to facilitate airflow. Visco-elastic foam toppers are regularly used in medical institutions because of their pressure relieving properties. The foam used in the construction of these memory foam toppers reacts to both pressure and temperature. This, combined with its greater density, are properties that give them their characteristic "weightlessness" sensation. An electric mattress pad is made of heavy fabric with heating filaments woven into it. In the UK and Commonwealth countries this is called an "electric blanket". Sleep Ridiculously Well – Mattresses GuideThe Sweethome and (part of ) are lists of the best gadgets and gear for people who quickly want to know what to get. When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we earn affiliate commissions that support our work.
Here is an explanation of , and . Our experts tirelessly research and test product after product to pick out the best gear for your bedroom. From sheets to pillows to mattresses to comforters, these picks are the best bedding and gear that will help you get a great night’s sleep. Stay warm, keep cool, and have sweet dreams while you get your eight hours. The Best Blackout Curtains Sebastian Insulated Total Blackout Window Curtains After 22 hours of research and testing, we think the Sebastian Insulated Total Blackout Window Curtains are the best for creating a cave-dark room. They blocked more light than 12 other sets, and they’re affordable and good looking. [Bed Bath & Beyond » $0] The Best Electric Blanket and Heated Mattress Pad Sunbeam Premium Quilted Heated Mattress Pad After 40 hours of research and testing, we think the Sunbeam Premium Quilted Heated Mattress Pad and Sunbeam Velvet Plush blanket are the best heated bedding for cold winter nights.
The Best Area Rugs Under $300 We spent more than 40 hours researching the best budget area rugs, and found 14 we highly recommend. They come in a range of sizes, patterns, and colors, so there’s something here for almost any decorating style. After 40 hours of research and testing in 100-year-old stone cellars, we think the Frigidaire FFAD7033R1 is the best dehumidifier for most people. The Best Flannel Sheets L.L.Bean Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set For maximum coziness this winter, we recommend curling up in L.L.Bean’s Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set. After 120 hours of research and testing, we found they’re softer and more comfortable than sheets almost twice the price. The Best Air Mattress SoundAsleep Air Mattress (Queen) After sleeping on four air mattresses (and considering dozens of guest-bed options), we recommend the SoundAsleep Air Mattress. It’s easier to inflate and it offers excellent customer service in case the mattress leaks or the pump breaks.
The Best White Noise Machine The LectroFan is the best white noise machine we’ve found after 20 hours of research and testing, including interviews with a sleep researcher, audiologists, and a sound engineer. The Best Mattress and Pillow Protectors Protect-A-Bed AllerZip Smooth Pillow Protectors After 17 hours of research and testing 17 protectors, we think the Protect-A-Bed AllerZip Smooth Mattress Encasement and Pillow Protectors are the best for protecting your bed from bedbugs and dust mites. These encasements are comfortable to sleep on, have very secure seams and zippers, and come with a great warranty. Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter After 120 hours of researching comforters and testing dozens, we think the Brooklinen All-Season Down Comforter offers the best value for most people. It’s lightweight but warm and quiet to sleep under, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. The Best Twin XL Sheets for Your Dorm Room Threshold Performance 400 Thread Count Sheet Set
After considering dozens of twin extra-long bed sheets, we think the Threshold Performance 400 Thread Count Sheet Set is the best twin XL bed sheet set for most dorm rooms. The Best Sheet Sets Under $50 After more than 200 hours researching and testing sheets, and trying 20 new sets, we think the Threshold Performance 400 Thread Count Sheet Set is the best set under $50 (for a queen bed). The Best Linen Sheets West Elm Belgian Flax Linen Sheet Set After considering a dozen linen sheet sets and testing four, we think West Elm’s Belgian Flax Linen Sheets offer the best value. They feel luxurious to sleep in, they’re softer and cheaper than other sets, and they receive fewer complaints about wearing thin. [West Elm » $240] The Best Duvet Cover Brooklinen Classic Duvet Cover After spending 60 hours on research and testing, we think Brooklinen’s Classic Duvet Cover is the most comfortable to sleep under. It is super soft, crisp, and breathable (like good hotel bedding), durably stitched, and comes at a great price for the quality.
L.L.Bean Pima Cotton Percale Sheets After a combined 200 hours of research and testing 20 new sets, we think L.L.Bean’s 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheets and JCPenney’s sateen Royal Velvet 400tc WrinkleGuard Sheet Set offer the best comfort and value for most people. They’ve both topped our list three years running. The Best Bed Pillows Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow After putting in hundreds of hours of testing, we think the Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow offers the best balance of comfort and price for most sleepers. The Best Foam Mattresses You Can Buy Online We researched 15 of the top online mattress companies, interviewed experts on sleeping and mattress design, spent over 40 hours researching foam mattresses, and slept on six models. We recommend the Leesa as a mattress that will work well for most people who sleep on their side or stomach. The Best Slippers for Women and Men We put 14 new pairs of men’s and women’s slippers through their paces and found the Haflinger AS and AT the coziest for winter and summer use.
The Best Pregnancy Test You’ll Want to Take First Response manual test After conducting more than 50 hours of research and having three of our female editors pee on a total of 60 pregnancy tests, we found the First Response manual test is the best option for most people. It gives the most accurate results (and the fastest results) because it’s the most sensitive over-the-counter test you can buy. Plus, it’s just as easy to read as a digital test and much less likely to give you an error message. The Best Facial Tissue We spent nearly 40 hours researching and testing more than a dozen well-liked facial tissues to find the best for most people. Puffs facial tissue aced all our tests, first with a panel of sniffly humans and then with $40,000 worth equipment in an engineering lab. They're the most absorbent and softest non-lotion tissues we tested. Plus, Puffs cost the least per tissue. But if you’re looking for a lotion tissue or one made from recycled materials (shudder…), we have other recommendations as well.