Mattress Covers
Good mattress covers for a foam bed should be made from thin, yet durable, 4 way stretch material.
You can easily test a fabric to see if it stretches properly. Take it between your hands. Pull it in one direction, and then the other. If it stretches both ways, like a T-shirt, then it’s good for your foam bed. If it does not stretch, like a button down dress shirt, then it is not good for your foam bed.
Most Common Non-Stretch Mattress Covers
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A typical non-stretch, polyester mattress cover is usually stitched (you can see where the threads are sewn into the cover). It is also usually used in a quilted top application (the top of the mattress looks puffy).
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Common 4-Way Stretch Mattress Covers
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A terry cotton cover (looks like a bath towel) is least expensive, but functions perfectly on a memory foam mattress.
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A velour cotton cover has a soft hand and is usually cream colored.
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A cashmere blend cover is mostly cotton, but the cashmere wool makes it even softer than the velour. It is usually an off white color.
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Choosing a Mattress Cover
Mattress covers are included with the bed, so you won’t really chose it. But I recommend that you chose a bed that comes with a cover meeting these criteria:
1) 4 way stretch
2) thin
3) durable
4) zips off to wash
Other covers on the market claim to be anti-dust mite, allergen resistant, and anti-static. I’ve seen one that has Aloe Vera mixed into the fabric which is supposed to be good for your skin.
I don’t have professional knowledge about these health related claims (though I do doubt them). I just think these extra attributes are unnecessary or of little value. Their primary value is in helping retailers sell mattresses. After all, health related claims have been proven to return a higher sales rate.
The best thing you can do to protect the health of your mattress is to purchase and use a waterproof mattress protector.
