Water-resistant Mattress Pads

Water-resistant mattress pads, or waterproof mattress pads if you wish, helps reduce the labor that comes with changing beds due to urinary incontinence. It is a common, uncomfortable condition, a very ill at ease topic that is known to create lots of additional laundry.

Water-resistant mattresses pads help keep the mattress dry, clean and always fresh. Water-resistant mattress pads are an innovation in light to the fact that there is a growing number of elderly adults who have difficulties with incontinence and of course the children who have a weakness with wetting the bed.

A typical water-resistant mattress pad has three defense layers. The top most layer wicks away moisture from the skin, then draws it into the inner layers; the mid layer acts as an additional absorbent material that is known to absorb up to 2 liters of water and the final layer is an impermeable fabric such as vinyl or polyester that helps keep moisture away from the mattress.

Note that a heavy duty water-resistant mattress pad may be fitted with two or three mid layers. Of equal importance to note is that a lot of people prefer polyester material in the bottom layer, as vinyl is known to make some noise when it crumples.

The mid layer or absorbent material may be made of cotton, fillers (made from bamboo fibers) or hemp fiber, which tends to be softer than cotton and has a high capability of absorbing twice as much water. The bamboo fillers equally possess great wicking capabilities as compared to cotton. You are also likely to find foams with high polyurethane absorbency used as fillers in water-resistant mattress pads.

There are options available today in the market whereby you may even purchase water-resistant mattress pads that cover only the middle part of the bed, known as overlay pads. The pads’ edges are coated with gentle adhesive to enable them stick when tucked in at the sides of the mattress. The other option is the water-resistant mattress pads covering the whole mattress hence keeping all moisture out. The totally enclosed water-resistant mattress pads are particularly recommended to individuals with allergies to the dust mites that are found in most mattresses.

It is very simple to clean water-resistant mattress pads as they are simply washable alongside other bedding. Use warm water and moderate drying heat. You can even aerate the water-resistant mattress pads under the sun, to help blanch out any stains.