How much will a mattress protector mess with my bedtime experience?

November 8, 2023 6:26 AM

There's a wave of bedbugs going in southern Europe now. I'm thinking about preemptively buying a mattress encasement, but I'm also a hot sleeper and kind of a diva about my sleeping experience in general. I really like the breathability and quilted pillow top of my currently unprotected mattress; are encasements reasonably comfortable these days, or should I resign myself to the feeling of sleeping on top of an IKEA tote?
posted by nanny's striped stocking to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

They really aren't terrible and are fairly cheap. You can put something on top of it as long as it is washable such as a thinner mattress topper, as bedbugs do die in high heat driers but mattresses and box springs are much much harder to treat.

There are things called bedbug wells you can put on your posts of your bed if you are concerned about bedbugs finding a new home from a neighboring unit or something while you are at it for piece of mind to put on the posts of your bed.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:42 AM on November 8, 2023

As someone who has had bedbugs, it doesn't really matter if your mattress is encased or not once you've already brought them home. They will just live wherever they can hide, they aren't too fussy.

If you're concerned, then you would be better off checking your clothing and bags after being in a crowded public place, before you enter your home. If I found them on me then, I would probably strip off right there, throw my clothes away and shower immediately.

That said, I don't personally check myself too much in fear of bedbugs and I don't recommend trying too hard to avoid them (though I do always check hotel rooms). It's really hard to avoid getting them because they're so damn small and they could be almost anywhere, like the seat in a cafe or on the bus or any of the nice places you want to be. For me, the mental trauma was really tough when I got them, I was dealing with them for months, checking myself in paranoia for months after that, and I eventually had to choose not to be freaked out about the possibility of bedbugs, in order to live my life.
posted by guessthis at 6:42 AM on November 8, 2023 [5 favorites]

Does your bed have legs? If so you can make (or purchase) bedbug traps so the bugs don't reach the mattress, instead of encasing the mattress. Here is an example of something you can make yourself.
posted by gudrun at 7:14 AM on November 8, 2023

Best answer: My wife wrapped our mattress in one to help with her allergies. Even though I did protest at first, I forgot we even had one until I read this question. I’m a hot sleeper myself as well and I’ve managed. I’m guessing that nice bed linens will help mitigate any discomfort.
posted by photovox at 7:30 AM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I recently purchased a mattress protector - "UNILIBRA Bamboo Waterproof Mattress Protector" - from Amazon USA. I use it on top of my mattress and latex topper, i.e. it's the first thing under my sheets. I thought it would be plasticky and hot and crinkly but it's really not! It's noiseless and comfortable and cool to sleep on. I'm very pleasantly surprised. I forget it's even there until it's time to wash my sheets.
posted by MiraK at 7:49 AM on November 8, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: We had bedbugs earlier this year, and have had this waterproof mattress protector on ever since (we were advised to keep it on for two years!). We honestly haven't noticed a difference at all, in sleep temperature or bed feel.

You won't feel like you're sleeping on an IKEA tote unless you aren't in the habit of using a fitted sheet on your mattress - all you'll feel is your sheet.
posted by pdb at 8:13 AM on November 8, 2023 [2 favorites]

I plastic wrapped mattresses last time - the huge roll of movers plastic wrap. Then I bought heavily padded but! Machine washable mattress pads to put on top. Machine wash in hot water.

Thanks to an evil cat, I just bought a five sided washable waterproof mattress cover which is surprisingly good and feels comfortably soft. However it would not do anything against bedbugs. You need to mummify them for a year.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 10:38 AM on November 8, 2023

Best answer: I did find my mattress protector to be uncomfortably crinkly and slippery under my sheets, so I use a padded mattress topper over it. I regret not buying a 100% cotton one though, I think it sleeps hot.
posted by umwelt at 5:44 PM on November 8, 2023