Mattress protectors are a good idea for every mattress, new or old. These simple accessories can add 5-10 years of life to a mattress and keep things clean, hygienic, and comfortable. The trouble is, most are made with toxic chemicals and synthetic materials.
I have distinct memories of losing sleep as a child thanks to noisy, crunchy, sweaty mattress protectors. These plastic monstrosities were made with PVC and always made for a poor night’s sleep.
Thankfully, there are much better options for safeguarding your mattress these days. Many of our favorite mattress and bedding companies offer GOTS organic certified protectors made without PVC and harmful chemicals. There are also fully natural and organic options that, while not fully waterproof, can protect against minor spills and leaks.
We learned a ton about mattress protectors designing one for our online store. In this article, I will give you the 101 on what to look for in a non-toxic protector, plus brands you can trust.
The best types
- Avoid polyurethane. Which is a waterproof but porous synthetic material. Because water vapor can pass through it but liquids can’t, polyurethane is breathable and highly protective. Polyurethane can even protect mattresses against dust mites and bed bugs (if a full encasement is used). Polyurethane is a petroleum-derived synthetic material, though, and there are many toxic chemicals involved in its production. The good news is that thin membranes of polyurethane as used in protectors are made in a different way to polyurethane foam (such as is found in many mattresses). As such, these membranes don’t off-gas and don’t leach toxic chemicals.
- Choose wool or cotton. For the most natural water-resistant mattress protector, wool or cotton is your best bet. This requires more care but is the next best thing to plastic for protecting your mattress from more serious leaks and spills.
- For better waterproofing. If you need more serious waterproofing for your mattress, go for a protector that pairs a thin polyurethane or bioplastic membrane with a natural fiber or fibers such as cotton or wool. Look for GOTS certification for the whole product as this ensures it is free of chemicals that can harm health.
- Finally, it’s worth noting that no mattress protector is foolproof. For best performance, check your protector regularly for any wear, tear, or punctures. Follow the care instructions (see our tips here) and replace your protector when necessary. A good quality mattress protector could last several years with proper care.
Our top picks
The mattress protectors below are the most sustainable, non-toxic options currently available. To learn how we assign Leaf Ratings, see our methodology page, here.
Essential Mattress Protector
Highlights: Made in America, Fair Trade, 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton mattress protector. Has an earthy, natural feel, with a fitted, lightweight, waterproof pad. Machine-washable, with reliable protection against accidents large and small.
Use code LEAFSCOREREADER to take 10% off any bedding item in the LeafScore online store.
At a glance:
- Materials: Organic cotton (100%), thin layer of PU laminate for waterproofing (<1%)
- Certifications: GOTS, Organic Cotton Standard, Fair Trade Certified
- Cost: $149-$219
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
It’s hard to find an inexpensive, organic, reliable waterproof mattress protector. After searching high and low, the Leaf Score team created one itself!
The result is a 100% organic cotton, GOTS and Fair Trade-certified mattress protector made in the USA.
This mattress protector is fully waterproof, thanks to a very thin layer of polyurethane (PU) laminate. This is sandwiched between layers of organic cotton and doesn’t off-gas or come into contact with skin. The protector is fully machine washable, for easy clean-up.
We were so impressed with this organic cotton mattress protector, we added it to our online store, LeafScore Essentials.
Avocado Green Waterproof Mattress Protector
Highlights: Certified organic mattress protector that is waterproof, breathable, non-sweaty, non-toxic, and sustainable. Climate neutral, GOTS and MadeSafe certified, and made by a fantastic B Corp.
- GOTS certified organic
- MadeSafe certified
- Fully waterproof
- Soft and comfortable
- Noiseless and breathable
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Safe and sustainable
- Made in the U.S. by a heavily certified sustainable B Corp
- 100-night trial and 1-year warranty
- Contains polyurethane
- Not a full mattress encasement
At a glance:
- Materials: Organic cotton (95%), polyurethane membrane (<5%)
- Certifications: GOTS, PETA certified vegan, 1% for the Planet, B Corp, MadeSafe, FSC, Climate Neutral Certified, Greenguard Gold
- Cost: $149-$199
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin Xl, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
- Depths: Standard fits 6-16-inch deep mattresses, Deep Pocket fits up to 22-inch deep mattresses
The Avocado Green Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad is a fantastic organic waterproof mattress protector. It can guard against spills and leaks big and small, as well as safeguarding your mattress from the daily insults of sweat and body oils.
Avocado is one of our favorite sustainable Benefit Corporations (B Corps) and makes this protector in California in a GOTS certified factory. The protector is one of only a handful of mattress protectors with MadeSafe certification and is also climate neutral and certified vegan.
Naturepedic Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad
Highlights: Certified organic mattress protector pad made of organic cotton jersey and a thin layer of hardwearing TPU. Breathable, non-sweaty, noiseless, and sustainably packaged by a company committed to a non-toxic, sustainable world.
- GOTS certified organic and MadeSafe certified
- Very affordable
- Soft and comfortable
- Stretchy organic cotton jersey fabric for snug fit
- Noiseless, breathable, and no off-gassing
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Non-toxic and sustainable
- Made in a GOTS factory
- 30-night money back, free returns, 1-year warranty
- Sustainable family-run company that uses green energy
- Contains TPU
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Only fits 9-16-inch mattress depths
At a glance:
- Materials: Organic cotton jersey, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
- Certifications: GOTS, MadeSafe, 1% for the Planet, Greenguard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free UL
- Cost: $109-$179
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin Xl, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
- Depths: Fits 9-16-inch deep mattresses
Naturepedic is a GOTS certified fully waterproof mattress protector comprising organic cotton jersey stretch fabric on top and bottom and a thin TPU layer between.
This breathable protector is also MadeSafe, Greenguard Gold, and Formaldehyde-Free by UL certified. We love it because it is super affordable, made by a family run company that offers excellent customer service, and mostly uses sustainable, plastic-free packaging. We have also reviewed Naturepedic crib mattresses, mattresses, and several other items, like pads.
My Naturepedic Waterproof Mattress Protector arrived alongside some new Naturepedic Pillows, mostly in sustainable packaging, though with some disappointingly unnecessary plastic around the protector. The drawstring organic cotton bag containing the protector is generously sized, though, and makes for a great reusable bag for laundry or other uses. It is also conveniently labeled, so you can easily find the right size protector in your linen closet.
The protector itself had a very slight new plastic smell but this was undetectable in under an hour of laying it out on the bed. As I’m quite sensitive to smells, I doubt anyone would have much of an issue with this protector after doing the same.
The protector fits snugly on my Queen size guest mattress, with no excess of material (unlike the Avocado protector). The corners and edges are robust and durable and even with a lot of toddler jumping, this mattress protector shows no signs of rips or cracks that would compromise the waterproofing.
I’ve been sleeping on this protector for several months, through nights hot and cold, and even when sick with a fever, and I can safely say it is not sweaty and is very breathable.
Turmerry Wool Waterproof Mattress Protector
Highlights: Mostly natural mattress protector pad made with wool fiber fill, polyurethane membrane, and a cotton cover. Truly waterproof, breathable, non-sweaty, and non-toxic.
- Waterproof, water-resistant, and absorbent
- Adds extra cushioning
- Noiseless and breathable
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Not bulky (0.25-inch thick)
- Safe and sustainable
- Oeko-Tex certified and made in a GOTS factory
- 120-day return policy (unopened)
- Free same-day U.S. shipping (sustainable packaging)
- 1-year warranty
- Contains polyurethane
- Not vegan
- Not certified organic
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Made in China
At a glance:
- Materials: Cotton, wool, polyurethane membrane
- Certifications: Oeko-Tex, GOTS facility
- Cost: $139-$199
- Sizes available: Crib, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split Cali King
- Depths: Fits 18-inch deep mattresses
Turmerry’s Wool Mattress Protector combines the benefits of wool for restorative sleep and water-resistance with the full waterproof capabilities of polyurethane. And thanks to a 270 thread count percale cotton cover, this mattress protector is breathable, soft, cooling, and comfortable.
PlushBeds Organic Mattress Protector
Highlights: Made with a top layer of GOTS certified organic cotton and a thin layer of polyurethane. Fully waterproof, with stretch jersey cotton for a snug fit. Noiseless, non-sweaty, lightweight, and breathable.
- Made with organic cotton and GOTS certified
- Fully waterproof
- Stretch jersey for a snug fit
- Wide size range including sofa bed sizes!
- Comes in biodegradable packaging
- Lighter than some other (three-layer) protectors
- Contains polyurethane
- No MadeSafe, Oeko-Tex, Greenguard, or eco-INSTITUT certification as non-toxic
- Expensive (but often on sale!)
- Two layers (not PU sandwiched between organic cotton)
- Only fits mattresses up to 15-inches deep
- May not be as durable as three-layer protectors
At a glance:
- Materials: Organic cotton, polyurethane membrane
- Certifications: GOTS
- Cost: $136-$288
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split Queen, Split King, Split Cali King, Sofa Bed Twin, Sofa Bed Full, Sofa Bed Queen
- Depths: Fits 15-inch deep mattresses
If you need a waterproof mattress protector for your sofa bed, this is the one to go for. Fully waterproof and made with certified organic cotton, this protector is lightweight, noiseless, breathable, and ships sustainably.
Note that unlike many of the protectors on our list, this one only has two layers: organic cotton on top; polyurethane below. That means this protector is slightly lighter than most others, and will dry faster after washing. However, the polyurethane layer might not be quite as durable, which is a shame considering the cost.
PlushBeds offers another, much cheaper, waterproof mattress protector, but this is made with polyester. It also has a waterproof wool mattress protector, made with cotton, wool, and microfiber. If you like the company, then, this organic waterproof protector is your best option, and the company often offers a hefty discount if you buy it alongside a new PlushBeds mattress (we love the Botanical Bliss!).
Shepherd’s Dream Washable Wool Mattress Protector
Highlights: Water-resistant washable wool mattress protector made with EcoWool sourced from Pacific Northwest farms using humane, organic, sustainable practices. Totally non-toxic and natural. Supports thermoregulation and restorative sleep.
- Made solely of U.S. EcoWool
- Water-resistant without chemicals
- Washable!
- Very effective
- Uses wool from sheep who are well cared for
- Great for adults, kids, and babies
- Wide range of sizes
- Sustainably packaged
- Made by a sustainable, family-run, caring company
- Not organic certified (but arguably better!)
- Not fully waterproof
- Sits on top of mattress with elastic corner loops (no side protection)
At a glance:
- Materials: Wool
- Certifications: EcoWool, Fibershed, Green America Business, Handmade, Sustainable Furnishings Council
- Cost: $215-$390
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King (crib protector also available without elastic loops)
Shepherd’s Dream offers a wide range of sizes for its washable wool mattress protectors, including crib mattress protectors I’ve used with success for several years. And I got those wool puddle pads and protectors from a friend who had also used them for many years prior!
Put simply, these gorgeous wool mattress protectors are incredibly durable and effective. They’re super sustainable, from the source of the wool through manufacture, to end of life.
Shepherd’s Dream is a small, family-run company that is committed to a more sustainable, circular approach to business. It has a zero-waste policy, makes everything by hand using traditional methods, and cares about materials, sourcing, packaging, and disposal at end of life.
If you’re looking for more protection for your mattress than cotton but don’t want TPU or polyurethane, wool is your best bet. This incredible fiber supports thermoregulation and is moisture-wicking and water-resistant. Wool has also been seen to support restful deep sleep, and it can even help to reduce motion transfer if your mattress is a little on the bouncy, soft side.
A friend gave me a Shepherd’s Dream Wool Puddle Pad and a Crib Mattress Protector when I was pregnant and I absolutely love them (the friend and the pads). The puddle pad was perfect for the change table and the mattress protector has saved our crib mattress several times over from spit-up, cloth diaper leakage, and various other insults.
Water and other liquids just bead on top of the wool, at least at first. If you’re quick, this makes for easy clean-up; sometimes all you need is to dab at the spill to soak it up and leave the pad totally clean and dry. If you’re not so quick to catch the spill or leak, the wool will soak up some liquids and will need spot-cleaning and air-drying.
My only advice is to have at least two crib mattress protectors as it doesn’t feel great to strip the mattress and have no protector while the pad air dries.
Note that while my crib mattress protector has corner elastics, Shepherd’s Dream no longer includes elastics on its crib size protector (for safety reasons), just on larger sizes. Without the elastics, the pad still works just fine as it drapes nicely over the whole of the mattress, with a little fold over at the edges, and is held in place by the crib sheet.
Final thoughts
Synthetic mattress protectors are crinkly and loud and can add a layer of toxicity to your bedding. However, a natural protector, like the ones listed here, can add years of life to your mattress and mitigate the impact of a fossil fuel derived Polyfoam mattress that perpetually off gasses. That, and there is no need to sacrifice waterproofing because it is possible to add a layer of water protection without the forever chemicals you and your family want to avoid.
Hi. Thanks for your work. I’m looking for a full mattress encasement for a twin and king bed to protect from dust mites and protect the mattress from child accidents. All of the pads and protectors I see are not full en casements. Am I missing an article? Thanks again?