Short answer
Put a breathable waterproof protector on the bed, wash it with your bedding routine and after any spill, replace it when it wears out, and have the mattress sanitized about twice a year. At our visit we take the protector off ourselves, so you don't need to strip it; wash it per its care label and put it back on once the mattress is dry to the touch.
Key terms used on this page
- Care label:
- The care instructions sewn into a mattress, topper or cover. Tempur UK notes that 'A label stitched inside the cover will give you specific care instructions for the item you have purchased.' A care label outranks general web guidance.
- Delamination:
- When a protector's waterproof film separates from its fabric, showing as bubbles, peeling or flakes. Casper warns heat drying can cause it.
- Stain clause:
- The warranty term that excludes stained or soiled mattresses. Purple, Saatva and Avocado all exclude stains in their own warranty terms.
Weekly
Bedding wash
The allergist practice parameter advises washing bedding weekly to decrease bed mite numbers and allergen levels.
212°F+
Our surface temp
Each visit, the mattress surface temperature is verified at 212°F or higher with a temperature gun.
Your year
Protector + sanitation routine
- Wash bedding weekly
- Wash the protector regularly and after spills
- Inspect it at every wash
- Replace it when it leaks, peels or tears
- Mattress sanitation about twice a year
The routine is simple: the protector handles daily life, and sanitation handles what builds up.
General information about mattress care, not medical advice. For allergy or asthma questions, talk with your doctor.
Every week or two
Wash bedding weekly, as the practice parameter advises. Wash the protector regularly and after any spill; see how often to wash protectors.
Every wash
Check for tears and delamination; replace it when it fails (signs to replace).
Twice a year
Sanitize the mattress. See why semi-annual mattress sanitation is the standard.
At our visit
You don't need to strip the protector: we take it off at the start. We don't clean protectors, so wash yours per its care label. Keep the bed unmade until the mattress is dry to the touch, then put the dry protector back on. Book on our schedule page.
Sleep Sanitation's view
This section is our view. Sleep Sanitation serves Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding towns. Every visit includes dry vapor steam, HEPA vacuuming, UV-C light treatment, the built-in bed mite sensor on our JIGOO UV-C mattress vacuum and a moisture check before we leave. We take your protector off at the start of the visit, so you don't need to strip it first; wash it yourself per its care label while we work or afterward. The first mattress is $249. Call or text (402) 512-5658, or email info@sleepsanitation.com. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 to 6, and we return calls and texts on weekends.
Changelog
- 15 October 2026: First published. Sources accessed on this date.
Sources
- Environmental Assessment and Exposure Control of Dust Mites: A Practice Parameter (Portnoy et al., 2013) · PubMed Central (Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home · US Environmental Protection Agency
- Waterproof Mattress Protector: Materials & Care · Casper
Last reviewed October 15, 2026. Manufacturer specifications and care instructions change; check the current version for your exact model. This page is general information, not medical advice. How we source and check pages: editorial standards.