Waterproof Mattress Protector, Bamboo-Viscose Blend

A mattress is the one thing in the bedroom you cannot put in the wash. This goes between it and everything that happens on it — a knocked-over glass, a night sweat, a child who did not make it to the bathroom — and it is the layer that goes in the machine instead. It goes on exactly like a fitted sheet: a wide elastic hem the whole way round and a skirt cut deep enough for a 16 in mattress, so it stays put rather than migrating into a ridge under your back. Your normal sheet goes on top and you forget it is there. Be clear on the fabric, because this category is full of loose language. It is 40% bamboo-derived viscose and 60% polyester, at 280 GSM. Viscose made from bamboo pulp is a manufactured fibre, not a natural one, and the word bamboo on its own would be doing work it has not earned. What the blend actually gives you is a softer, more cloth-like face than a plain polyester protector — that is the difference you feel through a sheet. The top surface is a white jacquard knit with a raised basket texture and a green bamboo-leaf motif woven into it, not printed on. The side skirt is plain white. Once a sheet is over it, none of that is visible anyway. The maker describes the construction as noiseless and crinkle-free, which is worth knowing: rustle is the single most common reason a waterproof protector gets sent back. It is also vinyl-free. What the supplier does not state is what the waterproof layer is made of or how long it lasts, so neither will we. Machine wash and tumble dry low, no bleach. Six sizes matching standard US mattresses, each available singly or as a two-pack — which is the sensible way to buy one, so there is a spare on the bed while the first is in the wash.