There are two main types of non-toxic, organic mattress pads: cotton and wool. As part of our Guide to Non-Toxic Bedding, we take a look at the pros and cons of both, so you can decide which will best meet your needs.
Mattress pads can give an old or uncomfortable mattress a new lease on life and help protect your mattress from some spills and accidents. Unlike mattress toppers, mattress pads don’t usually significantly alter the feel of your mattress. That said, even thinner mattress pads can seriously upgrade your sleep by relieving pressure and making a mattress feel just a little bit softer.
Mattress pads are a great choice for guest rooms to protect a mattress and offer a bit more comfort when guests need it. They’re also much more portable and easy to store than a full mattress topper, meaning you can take one camping or when traveling for work or leisure.
Once you’re in the market for a mattress pad, though, how do you decide which is best?
To make sure you get the support and comfort you’re craving, we look at the pros and cons of the two main types of mattress pads:
- Cotton mattress pads
- Wool mattress pads.
A mattress pad is usually 1-2 inches thick while a mattress topper usually adds 2-4 inches in height to a mattress. This means that mattress toppers are more likely to significantly change the feel of your mattress, turning it from firm to medium-firm, or from medium to plush.
Both mattress toppers and pads help to protect your mattress from spills and stains. Many mattress pads are washable, though, while toppers are too bulky to wash and can only be spot-cleaned.
A mattress topper is more likely to enhance the breathability of your mattress, although this depends on the materials in the topper. Even a thin wool or cotton mattress pad can significantly improve the breathability of a polyfoam mattress though, as well as thermoregulation and moisture-wicking for a dryer, cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Mattress pads are also much less expensive (usually) than mattress toppers.
Cotton mattress pads
Organic cotton mattress pads are a top choice if you’re looking for a pad that is:
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Somewhat thermoregulating
- More likely to be machine washable
- Durable
- Sustainable
- Non-toxic
- Biodegradable at end of life.
What we like
Cotton mattress pads can be very comfortable, though this largely depends on how thick they are and their overall design. Quilted pads comprising a cotton cover with cotton batting inside can be quite plush and help to make a firm mattress feel a little bit softer.
Cotton mattress pads can help to reduce sleep disturbance from a partner moving around. They can also take some of the strain off a mattress and help extend the life and improve the comfort of an old and saggy mattress. And because they act as a first or second line of defense against body oils and sweat, cotton pads can help keep newer mattresses in good shape for longer.
Depending on their size, construction, and other factors, cotton mattress pads can be machine washable. Because of their bulk, however, and the strain they put on a washer and dryer, you may want to find a laundromat with larger machines that can more easily handle mattress pads. Always follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Thinner cotton mattress pads can be quite portable, though. This makes them a nice choice if you want a pad you can take with you on camping trips or when visiting friends and family whose guest mattress is a little too firm for your needs.
What to watch out for
Cotton mattress pads aren’t water resistant or waterproof, so don’t rely on them to guard against major accidents. If thick enough, and if you clean up fast enough, a cotton pad can prevent significant damage to your mattress, though.
Many ‘organic’ cotton mattress pads are actually made with conventional cotton. Watch out for products that say ‘natural and organic’ but don’t carry any organic certification. Watch out too for those that use the GOTS or USDA symbol but don’t have a valid or current certification ID.
Proper certifications help identify those pads that are made with genuine organic cotton and are free of chlorine bleach, azo dyes, formaldehyde, chemical stain repellants and flame retardants and other harmful substances.
One other possible downside to an organic cotton mattress pad is that it can shrink with washing and drying. Check care instructions and follow them for best results. Some pads are sanforized (pre-washed), so that they don’t shrink further. Others are designed to be loose at first and to shrink to size after the first couple of washes. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer and size up if getting a fitted style pad.
- Can be fully organic and non-toxic
- Help improve breathability
- Moisture absorbing and moisture wicking
- Usually machine washable
- Support body temperature regulation
- Not waterproof or water-resistant
- Often made with conventional cotton
- Not as thermoregulating as wool
- Degrade faster than wool
- Can shrink in the wash (unless sanforized)
Wool mattress pads
Wool mattress pads are fantastic for year-round use as wool is naturally:
- Thermoregulating (keeping you cozy in winter and cool in summer)
- Breathable
- Moisture-wicking
- Supportive of deep, restorative sleep
- Durable and biodegradable at end of life.
Wool also repels dust mites, is resistant to mold and mildew, and is water-resistant and flame-resistant. These properties help to protect your mattress without the use of toxic chemicals.
What we like
On top of everything above, the biggest draw of a wool mattress pad is supreme comfort. Wool softens the feel of a mattress and can also provide significant pressure relief, making it a popular option for older adults and anyone who finds their mattress a little too firm.
Many mattresses now have a life expectancy of 10, 20, or more years. That means you may have many more years of life in your mattress but find it too firm as you get older. A wool mattress pad is a great way to reduce resource use and expense without sacrificing good sleep.
What to watch out for
Wool mattress pads can be expensive, heavy, and harder to care for than cotton pads and synthetics. It’s also very common for wool mattress pads to compress by 30-40% in the first six months of regular use. This doesn’t usually compromise the comfort or other properties of the pad but can be a bit disconcerting if you’re not expecting that degree of flattening.
To keep your mattress pad fluffy and soft, follow the care and maintenance instructions from the manufacturer. Typically, it’s a good idea to air out and fluff up the mattress pad at least once a month. You might even be able to put the pad in your dryer on low or no heat to restore some of the loft.
Unlike cotton mattress pads, wool pads are usually not machine washable. Instead, you’re best just airing out the pad on a sunny day and spot-cleaning when necessary. Consider using a mattress protector alongside the mattress pad to protect in and extend its useful life.
Wool comes from animals, usually sheep, and is, therefore, not vegan. Some wool is worse though in terms of exploitation and cruelty, as well as environmental impact from land use, pesticides, antibiotics, and so forth.
If you’re looking for a sustainable, more humane, wool mattress pad, pay attention to where the wool comes from and how it is treated after the sheep are sheared. Different types of wool processing can affect its resilience and bounce, for instance, in addition to potentially bringing harmful chemicals into your bed from detergents, bleaches, and sterilizing agents.
I strongly recommend choosing wool products that carry GOTS, kbT, or EcoWool certification, rather than RWS. Read more about these certifications and why they matter here.
- Super supportive and soft
- Great for year-round use
- Supports deep, restorative sleep
- Thermoregulating (great for hot and cold sleepers alike)
- Breathable and moisture-wicking
- Naturally water resistant without plastic or chemicals
- Can be organic and totally non-toxic
- Very durable (if treated right)
- Usually not machine washable
- Not vegan
- Can be expensive
- Requires more careful care and maintenance
- Animal agriculture has a big environmental impact
Final thoughts on types of mattress pads
The best type of mattress pad for you will depend on your ethics, budget, sleep style, and enthusiasm for bedding care and maintenance.
Cotton mattress pads are great for adult beds where spills and accidents are less likely and minor. They’re also good if you just need a little extra cushioning but aren’t looking for significant changes in the softness of your sleep surface.
Wool mattress pads tends to be thicker, plusher, and offer some degree of water-resistance. They are a good choice for older adults looking for pressure relief and a softer mattress feel.
A mattress pad can be a solid investment that improves your sleep now and for years to come. It can help safeguard your mattress and extend its life, saving you time and money and reducing overall resource use. And if you like to travel in style, a mattress pad can offer comforting familiarity and softness when camping, visiting family, or while traveling.
FAQs
In a word, no.
Polyester is a common material in mattress pads but is sweaty, not breathable, made with toxic chemicals and fossil fuels, and degrades fast. The same goes for polyurethane foam mattress pads.
This means you’ll quickly find your synthetic mattress pad uncomfortable and want to replace it.
So, while inexpensive and readily available, a polyester or polyurethane mattress pad is bad for sleep, bad for your budget, and bad for the environment.