Often it is seen that bedding manufacturers provide a very limited selection of mattress protectors – rather surprising considering the fact that consumers have now caught on to the fact that protectors are essential for keeping their bed hygienic and healthy, and for keeping the warranty on their expensive mattress intact.
Protect-a-bed is one company that stands far apart from much of the competition in this regard – with a dedicated mattress cover lineup consisting of dozens of products designed to cater to the needs of the most tightly budgeted consumer to the most extravagant one.
The diversity of their protectors compelled me to give them a thorough look, and I’ve put together my findings in this guide, backed by honest protect a bed mattress protector reviews, to hopefully introduce you to a company that could address some of your highly specific protector requirements.
Product |
Material |
Our Ratings |
---|---|---|
Protect-A-Bed Basic Mattress Protector |
Polyester fabric surface, polyurethane membrane |
|
Protect-A-Bed Premium Waterproof Mattress Protecto |
Cotton terry surface, polyurethane membrane |
|
Protect-A-Bed Luxury Waterproof Mattress Protector |
Eucalyptus fiber surface,polyurethane membrane |
|
Protect-A-Bed Plush Waterproof Mattress Protector |
Velour surface, polyurethane membrane |
|
Protect-A-Bed AllerZip Smooth Encasement |
Polyester fabric surface, polyurethane membrane |
|
Operating under the motto of ‘Every Mattress Needs Protection’, Protect-A-Bed has been offering a varied range protective bedding products to consumers for 34 years; presently, the company has establishments in 45 countries, and is regarded as a global leader as far as innovation in mattress protection goes.
The company’s proprietary Miracle Membrane® waterproofing reliably keeps liquids from coming into contact with the mattress surface, while their SecureSeal® and BugLock® technologies in conjunction with a three-sided zippered enclosure, keep bed bugs at bay in their encasement lineup. The products bear the Good Housekeeping Seal of quality, and have been rated as Class 1 Medical Devices by the FDA.
Ultimately, the company’s entire philosophy is based on the fact that mattresses demand hygienic protection because we spend a large part of our life on them. Protect-A-Bed has understood and embraced the fact that protectors are the new in thing as consumers become aware of the threats that moisture, allergens and other invasive bodies pose to their beds.?
One of the most striking aspects of Protect-A-Bed’s lineup is the sheer volume of products available – and these aren’t just fillers with minor differences to make the whole thing look big – the products are meaningfully unique in most cases: from standard polyester to soft terry cotton surfaces; from regular waterproofing to advanced eucalyptus fiber augmented waterproofing; from cot to California king sizes; from ultra-cheap to ultra-luxurious.
This points to a manufacturer that actually wants to cater to every consumer who uses a mattress!?
The Miracle Membrane® waterproofing system used in Protect-A-Bed mattress covers is – by and large – extremely effective at keeping both liquids, as well as allergens such as dust mites and dander, away from your mattress.
Users have attested to the fact that even the cheapest of these protectors can restrict the spills to its surface and shield the underlying bedding from damage. The encasement type protectors, with their proprietary BugLock technology, have also been found to be thoroughly reliable at keeping bed bugs out, and again, this comes straight from consumer feedback.?
The mainstream Protect-A-Bed protectors are super thin and stretchy, to ensure a clean fit on all mattress depths; the air porous membrane is designed to leave the overall feel of the mattress unaltered. Many users agree with this claim, praising even the budget offerings about how unobtrusive and cool they are compared to other products.
Moving on to the more expensive Protect-A-Bed products, for instance those with Tencel or Velour surfaces, and you’ve got a degree of softness that almost completely negates the slight plasticity of the underlying waterproof membrane.?
I have noted quite a few complaints about how a protector that worked fine for the first few accidents, eventually failed and let the fluid soak through after six months or so (after it had been washed a few times, that is).
While washing any protector will eventually cause its waterproofing membrane to fail, the volume of these complaints for Protect-A-Bed’s products was slightly higher than the competition – so I’ll recommend that you be extra careful in observing the laundering guidelines they have provided (discussed further on), and not wash the protectors unnecessarily.?
The Good Housekeeping Limited Warranty Seal is an independent third party guarantee of quality that ensures a refund of as much as $2000 (or complete replacement / repair), if the manufacturer fails to do so on their own. The seal is only given to a product that has first been rigorously tested for quality and reliability.
The manufacturer states that their products are 100% free of pesticides (often used to combat allergens more aggressively). Furthermore, the protectors care an FDA Class 1 Medical Device rating, which certifies that they are a low risk product with minimal regulatory controls. The encasements have been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Protect-A-Bed protectors come with a variable time period limited warranty depending on the particular product you purchase. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and material.
Furthermore, if you purchase the protector and a brand new mattress from the same authorized dealer, Protect-A-Bed will also cover damages done to the mattress surface as a result of defects in the protector.?
That said, it is advisable you go through the fine print yourself, as some users have reported that their warranty claims were rejected because of a seemingly innocent clause that they missed, but Protect-A-Bed’s customer support department didn’t.?
You’ll need the product code as well as the purchase invoice at the time of making the claim.?
It goes without saying that the care instructions must be followed to the hilt if you want the warranty claim to hold. Here’s how to wash your protector to make sure the warranty isn’t voided:
Key Points
The surface is made from a fast-drying, smooth jersey knit polyester fabric, and the waterproofing mechanism consists of the signature Miracle Membrane® that also protects against dust mites, dead skin, pollen, dander, mildew and mold.
The overall construction is of the fitted sheet variety, and the material stretches nicely over the mattress to be largely unobtrusive – as is attested by multiple users. The membrane is air permeable, so the protector runs a bit cooler than what you would normally expect in this price range.
The general feedback about the product has been very positive – with users praising its effectiveness as well as the way it didn’t have a perceptible effect on the feel of the mattress. Some noisiness was undoubtedly present, but it did not impact the quality of sleep.
That said, there have also been a few complaints about waterproofing failure from the get go – and considering how this is a cheap product, such cases are unavoidable. But according to some users, the company has been less than forthcoming in standing by the provided 3 year warranty, which is why I will advise you to thoroughly test this product on a spare sheet before you use it on your expensive mattress.?
Pros
Cons
This is a simple, affordable mattress cover that should appeal to consumers on a budget who want to reliably secure their mattress against major threats.
Key Points
The surface is made from cotton terry fabric that not only makes for a far more comfortable sleeping experience, but also has better absorbency to ensure that the fluid doesn’t pool up and interrupt your sleep.
The waterproofing is the same Miracle Membrane® found in other products by the manufacturer, and is equally effective, so long as you follow the proper washing instructions: there have been a few people who have ended up ruining their protector within a few years because of incorrect laundering.
The majority of the consumers have commended the protector for its comfort, discretion and reliability – some stating that it has lasted them for as many as 9 years without a hitch!
The scattered complaints about defective performance can’t be ignored either though, so you should give the mattress a preliminary test before putting it on a pricey mattress – especially considering the fact that consumers have had warranty troubles with this product too.?
Pros
Cons
This model is for those individuals who want a softer and absorbent surface material than run-of-the-mill spun polyester.
Key Points
The top surface is comprised of Lyocell Tencel derived from eucalyptus trees, which provides a completely organic, cool and almost-fleece like comfort for the sleeper without appreciably altering the feeling of the mattress underneath it. Additionally, it wicks away moisture, limits the growth of bacteria and is inherently hypoallergenic.
The underlying waterproofing is the staple Miracle Membrane which effectively blocks out fluids and tiny allergens while letting air to pass through. This, together with the eucalyptus fiber surface, results in one of the coolest sleeping experiences around.
Complaints about this product’s reliability have been minimal, with only a few users running into manufacturing defects – these can easily be covered with the 10 year warranty accompanying it. Overall, the feedback is extremely positive, with particular praise directed at reliability, noiselessness, fitting and comfort.
While this organic comfort does come at a steeper price, it is perfect for completing an elite luxury bedding setup.?
Pros
Cons
The Luxury Waterproof Mattress Protector is for those consumers who are extra sensitive about their bed’s temperature, and can’t tolerate it rising more than a few degrees due to the inclusion of a mattress cover.
Key Points
The velour surface on top achieves this with its velvety soft, luxurious texture – but don’t confuse this with the plushness you normally associate with couches and cushions – this one is quite subtle. It is absorbent enough to take the moisture away from your body so you don’t wake up in a pool of sweat / fluid at night.
Furthermore, the surface has a ‘stick’ to it which will keep the bed sheet on top of it firmly in place – a major problem with regular plastic surface protectors. The usual waterproof membrane reliably protects your mattress against spills, allergens and other common threats.
This particular model has also been certified by the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, a third party testing system that checks products for consumer safety based on both regulated and unregulated harmful materials, so if you’re extra concerned about a healthy sleep environment, this might be worth a look.
The user feedback has been almost unanimously positive, with many consumers noting the luxuriously comfortable feel of the protector. In case you do run into an issue, there’s a 10 year limited warranty backing the product.
Pros
Cons
The Plush Mattress Protector is designed for individuals who want to safeguard their mattress against spills and allergens without having to deal with the plastic feel of typical protectors at all.
Key Points
Thanks to its six sided design which envelopes the mattress and its BugLock Secure Seal three-sided zipper, bugs that have already burrowed in will be trapped inside, and those that are in your room will be kept out – in short, you can disinfect your room and sleep in peace without worrying about a bed bug bite.
In addition to the bed bug protection, the encasement also serves the usual roles of a waterproof, allergen proof shield for your mattress. It incorporates the same Miracle Membrane® waterproofing system found in Protect-A-Bed’s other products, that keeps liquids out but let’s air pass through.
The surface is composed of tightly woven polyester fabric that, according to consumers, fits the mattress perfectly and does not feel like cheap plastic at all. That said, you should expect slight noisiness because it is plastic after all.
To solidify their claims of its effectiveness, the manufacturer has acquired a Certified asthma and allergy friendly™ rating from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Furthermore, it has been certified to be bed bug proof by a third party entomology laboratory.
Consumers have been thoroughly satisfied with the bed bug proofing capability as well as the overall comfort and performance of this product – I only came across a single complaint of bed bug proofing failure, and that may have been due to rough handling of the encasement itself.?
In any case, the product comes with a 10 year warranty from the manufacturer to cover against defects.?
Pros
Cons
The AllerZip Smooth Encasement protector is for those users who are dealing with (or foresee themselves dealing with) a bed bug infestation.
You’ve reached the end of my guide, and will have undoubtedly gotten a glimpse at the diversity I was talking about at the start. You will also have seen that in spite of the third party backed reputation of reliability and big-brand status, Protect-A-Bed suffers from two common problems in the industry: quality control and stingy warranty.
That said, the situation is not as bad as consumer reviews online make it seem – especially in the high end protector department. This is why the best Protect A Bed Mattress protector in my opinion is the Luxury Waterproof model with its cool, moisture-wicking, allergen / bacteria repelling, comfortable eucalyptus fiber surface. The underlying waterproofing may be identical to the rest of the lineup, but the Tencel surface goes a long way in creating one of the most luxuriously practical sleeping surfaces around.
The expensive price point may be a turnoff if you’re on a budget, but you could always go with the Premium Waterproof Mattress protector with its terry cotton absorbent surface – just make sure you thoroughly test it before putting it on a premium mattress.
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