I’m a laundry expert – you’re washing your waterproof mattress cover wrong, what to do when your kid has an accident
PARENTS know that waterproof mattress covers are a miracle product, regardless of how old your children are.
But what you might not know is how to wash them properly – and right now, you might be damaging your mattress covers when you clean them.
Though every brand is different, most mattress covers have a few things in common when it comes to getting them clean, one expert told Romper.
Aaron Feldman, director of product and brand strategy at Casper, said that erring on the side of gentle products is better when cleaning a mattress cover.
If in doubt, he added, consult the care label.
“When it comes to washing a machine-washable mattress protector, be sure to look at the details on the care instruction label,” Feldman told the outlet.
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There may be special washing instructions indicated there, and if you don’t follow them, your miracle mattress-saver may sustain damage.
“We do not recommend dry-cleaning the protector or washing it using solvents, bleach, or fabric softener,” Feldman told the outlet.
“Bleach can damage the fabric and cause it to break down over time,” he explained. “If you need to remove tough stains, use a mild detergent and lukewarm water instead.”
No matter how gross an overnight accident or sick-day stains might be, don’t give in to the temptation to wash or dry the cover on your machines’ hottest setting, either.
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“Doing so could cause delamination and shrinkage,” Feldman warned.
Instead, use cold water on the “delicate” or “gentle” setting to wash the mattress cover, which will help keep the fibers from shrinking.
Use a mild detergent, with no added softeners – those can impact the spill-absorbing qualities of the material.
You can even run a second rinse cycle to make sure all the detergent is gone.
Since the protective material of the mattress cover is different from your typical sheets, detergent may cling to its surface after a normal wash, which can irritate the skin.
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Finally, tumble-dry your mattress cover on low heat, or air-dry it indoors or outdoors.
Try to wash your mattress covers once a month, unless a major spill occurs in the meantime. It’s totally safe to wash the cover, sheets, and pillowcases in one fell swoop.