Need Help Choosing a Latex Mattress Cover / Protector / Encasement

Discussions General Mattresses Questions
1

Hey, Im hoping to get some help and feed back on choosing a cover, protector, or encasement for our latex mattress. My wife and I just purchased our 12 inch latex mattress and are trying to decide what to add to our bedding system. My wife is 5’5 110 (and currently pregnant) and I am 5’9 150. Also my wife has a latex touch allergy so we wanna make sure the bed is safely secured with alot of comfort layers between her and the latex. The bed currently has the latex layers zipped up in a full organic cotton and wool cover which I am sure is plenty of covering, but we would like to add a cover, protector, or encasement and just need some help deciding since there are so many out there and it can be over whelming. We would like something organic if possible and water proof would be nice, but we dont want the “drum” effect as Phoenix mentioned or for it to sleep to hot. Also we would like it to be an allergy and dust mite barrier, and we both have very sensitive skin. Im sure there is something great out there we just need some help deciding and/or choosing cause we are going back and forth of different ones.

We have looked at the post on here about the different types and have looked into alot of the covers that were recommended or mentioned on the post, but we can decide which would be better. We like the Cozy Pure but feel it may not offer much mattress protection or water barrier. The Natura Protect Deluxe seems like a great option, but isnt organic unfortunately but do you think that really matters? We would like it to be organic since the factory zip cover is, our sheets are, and we have a baby on the way, but maybe we are being silly and it doesn’t really matter as long as there are no harsh chemicals. The St. Dormeir is very nice, but not organic or waterproof, and we also really like the Naturepedic organic protector pad but fear it may be too thin, not enough of a barrier for the latex allergy, other allergens and dust mites, or create a drum like feel and take away from the comfort of the latex but we do really like the Naturepedic pad. My wife has also mentioned an encasement.

Would a mattress encasement possibly be a good option??? I was wondering if a latex bed needs to ‘breath’ and whether it would be ok to put it in an encasement or not. An encasement sounds like possibly a good option because of the allergy and dust mite barrier, as well as the latex allergy barrier it would provide, and possibly something like the Allergy Guard Direct Organic Cover, but would this take away from the feel of the bed, or make it more firm or create a ‘drum’ effect?? Also I wonder if its overkill since the bed is already sealed in a zippered cover of organic cotton and wool and a simple fitted protector or cotton/wool protector would be fine.

Another thought, is a combination of a cover / protector / encasement. We could possibly use an encasement then put a nice cotton cover like Cozy Pure over it…but is this just overkill for her latex allergy, dust mites, heat, comfort, and just kinda overly expensive and silly.

Thanks so much for any suggestions and or input you can give us. We just wanna make sure our bed set up is the best it can be and is as comfortable and clean as possible. Please let me know your thoughts and or what you use and how you like it!

2

Hi reform,

You’ve probably read these already but just in case you’ve missed some of them (or for the sake of others that may read this) … most of your questions are answered in post #89 here about the pros and cons of different types of mattress protectors, post #2 here about mattress allergy or bed bug encasements, post #2 here about dust mite allergies, post #2 here about latex allergies, and post #2 here and the posts it links to about organic certifications.

I’ll add some comments here that hopefully will help fill in some of the blanks or “connect” some of the information together although which option is best for you will really be more about your preferences and the budget range you are most comfortable with than they will about making a "better/worse"choice.

The first thing I would decide is why “organic” is important to you since an organic certification is more about the farming methods used to grow an agricultural product than it is about “safety”. There are many non organic products that have been tested to standards such as Oeko-Tex standard 100 class 1 (safe for babies) that are just as “safe” as an organic product (I linked the Wikipedia article because the Oeko-Tex site is down at the moment). In the case of cotton I would personally prefer certified organic since cotton is among the most heavily sprayed crops on earth. In the case of wool there are many wool producers that use organic farming methods and don’t use any harsh chemicals in manufacturing their wool products but aren’t certified organic because of the extra costs involved that would have little benefit but would still have to be passed on to the consumer. This would be something like a food that you know is grown on a local farm that doesn’t use any pesticides and uses organic farming methods and that you know is just as healthy and “safe” (or perhaps even more so) than organic produce that is certified organic but costs less because they don’t wish to go through all the costly requirements to have their produce certified.

If “waterproof” is important to you then the “most waterproof” option would be one of the thin membrane types of protectors. They use a combination of fabrics that are bonded to a semi breathable synthetic membrane. While the membrane is synthetic (there is more information about the different types of membranes at the end of post #2 here) … they are safe and don’t offgass. The Naturepedic protector here is stretchy and uses GOTS certified organic cotton but like all the protectors of this type the membrane itself is a synthetic material (and not organic).

If a little less water resistance is OK with you then some of the wool/cotton combinations would be a good choice. They would be fine for all but the most “serious” accidents and would give you the time to remove the bedding in case of an accident before it has a chance to to through to the mattress. A “puddle pad” with a separate organic stretch cotton protector on top of it would likely be a little more water resistant than an all in one cotton/wool protector but thicker protectors or “systems” will also have a little more effect on the mattress than thinner protectors. This would probably be the preferred choice for those that prefer organic materials (or natural wool that is “just as natural” as organic wool) and don’t mind the extra cost.

If one or both of you have more serious allergies than it would be worthwhile to consider a 6 sided mattress encasement (along with other products that can help control dust mites such as a pillow encasement or foundation encasement, air purifiers etc) that can help control the dust mite population in your home. In this case I would use a more breathable encasement without a membrane because an encasement is meant to be left around the mattress on a more permanent basis and then you can use a 5 sided mattress protector on top of it that can be removed and washed on a more regular basis to keep your sleeping surface in a more hygienic condition.

If you either have bed bugs or are in a high risk area and you want to ensure that your mattress doesn’t become infested then I would use a mattress encasement that was meant for this specific purpose and had a locking zipper that doesn’t allow the bed bugs to escape. The better ones here have the membrane which are less breathable but this would be the tradeoff for bed bug protection. Since these also need to be left on the mattress permanently and not removed … I would also consider an additional 5 sided protector that can be removed and washed on a more regular basis but this wouldn’t need to be “waterproof” since the bed bug encasement would also be protecting the mattress from liquid accidents.

Between the cover that is around the mattress itself and any type of protector or sheets a latex contact allergy shouldn’t be an issue since you won’t be in contact with the latex with any of them.

Hopefully this will help you decide on the product or combination of protector products that would meet the criteria and preferences that are most important to you and your budget.

Phoenix

3

I also have this problem - but my latex allergy seems to be not just contact but inhalation now. I have not yet been to a doctor but will do so. The problem is when I go on holiday, which happened recently, and the mattress or pillows have a latex component. I did not develop the skin rash but sinus inflammation, stuffed up nose and ears. It was really bad. I want to know what sort of mattress pad I could take on holiday with me to prevent this sort of thing happening.

4

Hey VITI,

You’d want to have an evaluation by a heathcare professional to ascertain completely what you may be reacting to, as unless you’ve had a previous positive latex diagnosis it could be something other than latex, including some of the chemicals used to make latex. This article describes the differences between the sensitivities (and allergy) that can happen with latex. Latex allergens are found in many different micron sizes, and of course one wouldn’t have a manner of measuring the micron size upon entering a hotel room of latex allergens to determine the appropriate micron pore size of covering that could be used, so the normal advice is avoidance in such situations. But you’d first want a complete diagnosis to come up with an accurate course of action with your healthcare professional. Good luck!

Jeff Scheuer, The Beducator
Mattress To Go

5

Thanks Jeff. Yes I do need an evaluation though there is no doubt that I have the skin contact type of latex allergy and cannot wear rubber gloves. I don’t know for sure that I have an allergic reaction to latex by inhalation yet – but it happens in certain environments that contain latex.
The thing is – I know once you have one kind of latex allergy it can creep up into the worst types so I try and limit my latex contact regardless. My present dilemma came about after developing a very unpleasant though not life-threatening reaction affecting sinus ears/eyes and nose when I stayed in an apartment.
It will take some time to get referred to a specialist and in the meantime, I am a bit paranoid about staying away, and two trips have already been booked. I would like some kind of makeshift and portable cover I could take with me. Even if it wasn’t latex on the bed, it would make sense to find something I could use.

6

Hey VITI,

Until you have a positive confirmation of what is causing your issue, your idea of avoiding latex is a good idea, but the difficulty is that latex proteins are quite common everywhere. And even if you have a reaction to dipped rubber latex gloves, it doesn’t mean that you necessarily have an issue with a latex sensitivity, as it could be the accelerants used to make such a product, which is why it is so important to receive an accurate medical diagnosis. If you do have a true Type I latex allergy, having Type IV symptoms are sometimes a precursor. A Type I allergy can be progressive, hence the advice by practitioners to avoid latex completely in such instances. When traveling you could travel with a mattress and pillow encasement with a very small micron pore size (4 or so) but this would be no guarantee, and of course wouldn’t remove the latex proteins already in the air in the bedroom. And in a confined space this could be an issue for you. Complete encasements that allow no air to pass through would be a bit uncomfortable, and again wouldn’t eliminate the proteins already in the air if the room used a latex mattress/pillow. So I certainly can understand your frustration and concern.

Good luck with your diagnosis.

Jeff Scheuer, The Beducator
Mattress To Go

7

Thanks - I will take your advice about the small micron size cover.

8

Hi VITI

Considering medical assessment of your allergic reaction and the very small micron pore size, as Jeff suggested, our Expert advisers here (Thank you Jeff! :slight_smile: ) would better assist you in selecting the correct encasement for your situation. In case you must make a selection before you have the chance to find out what you are allergic too and for the benefit of others who have significant allergies then a mattress encasement that completely surrounds the mattress may be worth considering (even though some of them may reduce the ability of the mattress to breathe and ventilate) to protect against dust mite allergens (and/or bed bugs if this is an issue). There is more about mattress encasements in post #2 here and about dust mite allergies in post #2 here.

mattress protectorsThere is a bit more information about mattress encasements (vs ) that are the “allergy” type and are made with a pore size of about 5 - 6 microns or less which prevents most allergens from penetrating the fabric. The most common of these are dust mites which are fairly large on a micron scale but dust mite feces, particles, and larva can be 10 microns or smaller and dander can be 5 - 6 microns or smaller and some other allergens can be smaller yet so the smaller the pore size the more complete the allergy protection ( see here and here for some common allergen sizes). For most people 5 - 6 microns will be enough to prevent most allergens. These are available in natural fabrics such as cotton which are usually in the 4 - 6 micron range and made so that the pore sizes stay consistent with washing. An example of a cotton blend is the Allersoft here and 100% cotton is here . There are also many others that use synthetic fibers ( such as here ) where the pore sizes are smaller yet which may offer more complete protection for smaller particles but may not be as effective for ventilation or at absorbing and wicking away moisture (which is part of temperature control) which is why natural fibers tend to sleep cooler than synthetic fibers (which don’t absorb moisture). Rayon type “semi-synthetic” fibers that are made from cellulosic materials such as bamboo, wood, or eucalyptus also absorb moisture and are similar to natural fibers in their ability to absorb and wick moisture. Some information about various allergy mattress encasements is here and there are also some comparisons of micron sizes between several common brands here.

I’ll be interesting in finding out what your findings are about your symptoms and what you decide to do.

Phoenix

9

Thanks Phoenix - it’s getting a bit complicated but I will do some homework! This is a good site.

10

Hi Viti,

I am new to the forum but not to allergies. I wonder why you think it is a latex allergy that you have? I mean the reaction you had with your sinuses getting clogged. I suffer from several allergies (latex not being one of them) and I often get congested when flying or in hotels. It is mostly due to all the dust mites that live in the carpeting and furniture and sometimes mold in the AC system. I would look into that as well. If you are prone to allergies, most likely you will develop others as the years go by. Hope this helps.

11

Hi reform,

My understanding is that latex mattresses do not harbor dust mites or microbes. Same goes for wool products. You may just need a barrier to protect your bed from stains, but otherwise you already have the most natural materials to sleep on in your sleeping configuration if I understand your description correctly. Good luck with finding a new protector.

12

Hey Nanou69

Just a quick note about dust mites, latex and wool. There isn’t anything inherent that stops dust mites from inhabiting latex or wool. However, latex is quite breathable, as is wool, and wool is very good at humidity regulation. Dust mites prefer warm and moist environments, so this is why wool and latex are often promoted as products that can be less hospitable to dust mites (some companies do go quite far and stretch their claims of being “dust mite proof”, I know).

The key is to keep the sleeping environment cool (mid 60s or so is fine), with a low relative humidity (50% or below is a good start), and most importantly as you mentioned, keeping the skin cell population (dust mite food source) as low as possible. At home this can be frequent vacuuming and washing of sheets and pillow encasements. At hotel, you’re at the mercy of the cleaning crew and how well they vacuum the room.

Jeff Scheuer, The Beducator
Beducation / Mattress To Go

13

Thanks Nanou69. I realise it could be something else, but I’m not allergic to many things and not dust mites either. The particular apartment I stayed in did have a lot of exposed beams and the bed had a lot of timber on the bed which was oiled not varnished. So it could be Lindane/wood preservative and I did have a reaction to woodworm killer many years ago.
However, I only had this when I lay on the bed and as I know I have a latex allergy, it’s a good bet.

14

I’m not after “natural” because that does not always equal best or hypoallergenic. There is a problem with the word “hypoallergenic” anyway. Latex mattresses are described as such, therefore people think you won’t get an allergy from them, when in fact it only means that latex is inhospitable to dust mites and molds. If it’s latex you are allergic to then obviously, the mattress is “hypERallergenic”!

15

Dust mites is not the problem.
The reason I am a bit paranoid about latex is that 1) I know I have at least the lowest level of allergy and 2) it can easily develop into the worst sort of allergy, and that is a really bad allergy to have because latex is everywhere.