The global bedding market—and the mattress market in particular—is booming. In fact, consumers are placing greater importance on sleep quality and the sense of well-being that a mattress should provide.
With so many products available on the market, it can be difficult to know how to choose the right mattress. To ensure you have a healthy, comfortable, and durable bed, it’s essential to consider the features of the mattress cover. We’ll explain how a mattress cover works and the different types available.
How can you tell the difference between a mattress cover, a mattress topper, and a mattress protector?
The terms “duvet cover,” “mattress topper,” and “mattress protector” are often confused. However, each has its own specific function as a bedding item.
The mattress cover is the fabric layer that envelops the mattress core. Its thickness varies depending on its composition and design. The cover is therefore the part of the bedding that you come into contact with when you lie down on the mattress—not counting any mattress topper, mattress protector, or fitted sheet. The quality of the mattress cover must therefore be the best possible to ensure optimal comfort throughout the night.
As for the mattress topper, its purpose is to revitalize an old mattress by improving its comfort and support. This mattress topper is not necessary if you have recently purchased a high-quality mattress. A mattress topper is only worth considering to address the wear and tear of an older mattress: it extends its lifespan, allowing you to purchase a new mattress a few months or years later.
The purpose of a mattress pad is to protect your mattress under all circumstances. It makes maintenance easier by shielding the mattress from moisture caused by night sweats, as well as from bacteria and dust mites in some cases. A mattress protector extends the life of your mattress and improves its hygiene. It is placed on top of the mattress cover (or mattress topper, if you have one) and underneath a fitted sheet or other bedding.
A mattress protector is essential for protecting a baby’s or child’s mattress. In fact, as long as it’s of good quality, a waterproof mattress protector provides excellent protection against moisture from urine, which can stain your mattress and cause unpleasant odors.
However, waterproof mattress protectors are made from plastic and petrochemical-based materials. To protect the environment and safeguard your health, the Kipli mattress protector is therefore not waterproof. It is made entirely of organic cotton and ensures proper ventilation of your mattress to combat moisture and the resulting proliferation of dust mites. The mattress protector is available in several sizes: it’s up to you to choose the size that fits your mattress.
What are the two types of mattress cover designs?
There are two main types of mattress cover designs: the traditional design and the "sandwich" design. They differ largely in the quality and comfort they provide once placed around the mattress.
Sandwich-style mattress covers
On the one hand, “sandwich” covers consist solely of a ticking. This is the fabric that covers the mattress: it is pulled tight and secured around the mattress with a zipper. “Sandwich” covers contain no filling; they are relatively fragile and offer very limited comfort.
Because of their manufacturing process, they are less expensive for the manufacturer, making their retail price more attractive to consumers. As a result, “sandwich” covers dominate the market and are primarily used to cover low-cost mattresses.
Traditional mattress covers
On the other hand, so-called traditional mattress covers consist of two or three parts:
- the cover fabric (the outer layer of the cover);
- the filling (materials inside the cover);
- a possible lining (the inner layer of the cover).
The cover's padding ensures greater comfort when lying on the mattress, as well as extending its lifespan and increasing its durability. This superior quality is often the result of a relatively lengthy artisanal (or even handmade) production process.
Traditional covers can be easily distinguished from "sandwich" covers by the visible stitching along the edges of the mattress, as well as by the quilted appearance resulting from the cover's filling.
Traditional mattress covers are typically used for high-end mattresses and cost at least twice as much as "sandwich" covers.
What materials are used to make a mattress cover?
The materials chosen for a "sandwich" or traditional cover depend on the desired outcome in terms of the cover's quality, durability, and price.
A pillowcase is typically made of microfibers (polyester, spandex, etc.) blended with cotton—materials that give it a certain amount of elasticity. These petrochemical-based materials do not guarantee the quality of the product or your sleep, nor do they ensure environmental sustainability.
Given the synthetic and environmentally unfriendly nature of such cover materials, 100% organic cotton is gradually gaining ground in the market. Unlike conventional cotton, 100% organic cotton is neither treated nor bleached with chemicals. In fact, the cotton products we are accustomed to using are mostly completely white; however, cotton is naturally a slightly off-white color.
As for the traditional Kipli mattress cover, it consists of:
- made of organic cotton taffeta for a soft feel;
- a filling made of cotton fiber (36%) and recycled microfiber (64%) that is Oeko-Tex certified;
- a lining made of pure combed cotton.
However, in line with its commitment to manufacturing products exclusively from natural materials (such as the natural latex mattress), Kipli offers an alternative to this cover, which is partly made of polyester.
This cover is made of 100% organic cotton—from the outer fabric to the filling and lining. While it’s true that a natural or organic mattress cover is less durable, it has the advantage of helping to create a healthy and comfortable sleeping environment for sleepers.
In addition to the cover’s material and its role in protecting the mattress, manufacturers must also prioritize its practicality. First, by sewing handles onto the sides of the cover, the mattress can be easily moved despite its weight. Also, mattress covers with a zipper closure can be removed for machine or hand washing, depending on the material. This makes bedding maintenance faster, more efficient, and simpler.
We recommend these other pages: