Do you need a mattress protector for your Airbnb, and which one?

A mattress protector is probably the most debated piece of bedding. It’s the last layer before the sheets in your bed setup, so guests feel it, and it matters to their experience.

Waterproof, but still breathable

A good mattress protector is waterproof, so spills and sweat don’t get through. It still needs to breathe, so air and moisture can move. A protector that acts like a sheet of plastic makes guests sweat and reflects their body heat back at them.

• Look for a breathable waterproof membrane, which blocks liquid but still lets air through, unlike thick plastic or vinyl.
• Make sure it’s quiet, so guests don’t hear crinkling every time they turn over.
• A soft knit or quilted top keeps the bed feeling like a bed.

Why I recommend a zippered encasement

This is the important part. Use a six-sided zippered encasement, not a fitted protector that only covers the top and sides. An encasement wraps the whole mattress, bottom included, and zips shut.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs aren’t something you’ll see often, but they’re common enough in hotels and rentals to plan for. They travel in luggage, and a rental sees far more people come and go than a home does. The seams and edges of a mattress are one of their favorite places to hide.

• A sealed encasement leaves bed bugs no way into the mattress, and any already inside can’t get out.
• If bed bugs do show up, they often hide in the frame, box spring or headboard too, but with the mattress sealed you can treat the room and keep the mattress. At worst, you replace the protector.
• If you ever find bed bugs, the EPA recommends leaving encasements on for a year, so any bugs trapped inside die.

It’s the hotel standard

Many hotels use zippered encasements for the same reasons. They protect the mattress from stains and bed bugs, and they leave bugs fewer places to hide. For an Airbnb, it’s one of the cheapest ways to protect your most expensive piece of bedding.

What to look for

• Make sure it says it protects against bed bugs, since not every zippered cover does.
• The zipper should close completely, ideally with a flap or seal over the end so there’s no gap.
• The fabric should be sturdy enough to last a year or more without tearing.
• It has to fit the depth of your bed, more on that below.

Two hospitality-grade picks

My pick: Four Seasons Essentials zippered encasement

• It’s a six-sided stretch encasement with a soft polyester surface and a waterproof polyurethane lining.
• It’s breathable and silent, so guests won’t hear it under the sheets.
• A Velcro seal covers the end of the zipper, so nothing gets in.
• The king fits mattresses 12 to 16 inches deep, which leaves room for a 12-inch mattress with a topper.
• It’s OEKO-TEX certified.

Another good option: Hospitology Products Sleep Defense System

It has a soft, plush knit surface, a zipper lock and a bug flap, and a waterproof barrier on all six sides. Its breathable membrane feels smooth and quiet under the sheets without trapping heat. It comes in several depths, has a 5-year limited warranty, and is often on sale for around $55 at Wayfair.

Measure before you buy

An encasement has to fit snugly. If it’s too loose, it shifts as guests move and bunches up every time the sheets are changed. If it’s too tight, the zipper is a fight.

• If you put it over the topper like I do, measure the mattress and topper together.
• Then buy for that depth, since both brands sell encasements in different depths.

Over or under the topper?

It’s a balance between guest comfort and practicality.

• Under the topper (mattress, protector, topper, sheets), guests feel only the topper, but the topper isn’t protected, so this only works if you can wash the topper between guests.
• Over the topper (mattress, topper, protector, sheets) is what I do, since most hosts don’t have time to wash a topper at every turnover, and the protector keeps everything underneath clean.

A good-quality protector barely changes how the bed feels, and it still gives you full protection. More on toppers in my mattress topper guide.

How to wash it

• Have your cleaner check it for stains at every turnover, when the sheets come off.
• Wash it right away after any spill or accident.
• Otherwise, wash it every 2 to 3 months and follow the care label, since some can go in hot water and others need a low dryer setting to protect the waterproof layer.
• Keep a spare for each bed, so a bed is never left unprotected while one is in the wash.

It protects everything underneath

A good protector helps your mattress and topper last longer, and it gives every guest a cleaner bed.