The Waterproof Mattress - A Niche Product

In every industry you have a few mainstream products and then you have your niche products. This is true for bed mattresses as well. Mainstream products include traditional coil spring mattresses, air mattresses, synthetic latex and natural latex, memory foam, and even waterbed mattresses. Of course, you also have air beds and camping mattresses too. However, among the niche products you are not likely to see a whole lot of are waterproof mattresses.

When we say waterproof mattresses we are not talking about conventional mattresses with a waterproof pad on top. We're talking about mattresses whose construction or modifications make them impervious to moisture. Right off the top of our head that makes us think of vinyl air mattresses we used to take camping. We could also take them into the pool or the lake as a flotation device or just to lounge in the sun for the afternoon. But there are waterproof mattresses that are much more than that.

Beneficiaries of Waterproof Mattresses

The most obvious beneficiaries of waterproof mattresses are infants and young children with bed wetting problems. With a traditional mattress bed wetting creates the perfect environment for the growth of bacteria and other nasties. Not only that, but urine will stain the traditional mattress and cause foul odors for years after the mattress is no longer used. If you've ever had a hand-me-down mattress you've used over the course of several children, you know what we're talking about.

Along those same lines, the elderly and chronically ill also benefit from waterproof mattresses for the same reasons. But they also benefit caregivers who must change bed sheets and linens on a daily basis; sometimes even several times a day. Conventional mattresses, even with waterproof mattress pads, generally don't hold up very well under these types of conditions.

Construction of a Waterproof Mattress

As previously mentioned, most of the waterproof mattresses you see on the retail market today are inflatable camping mattresses for air beds. Because of their PVC construction they are naturally waterproof and airtight. Yet while these mattresses may be ideal for camping or as a temporary sleep solution, they really aren't suitable as a permanent sleep option. For a permanent application you need a standard mattress that is waterproof.

One of the most obvious means of doing so is to create your traditional mattress and then encase it in a waterproof casing. Most commonly this is done by simply utilizing a waterproof "bag" which completely encases your mattress and zips shut on the bottom. With these types of bags you can use coil spring, foam, or even air mattresses. When the bag needs to be washed it can be slipped off and thrown in with your laundry.

Though they're hard to find, there are waterproof mattresses that have the waterproof casing permanently attached as part of the build process. For mattresses like this the waterproof casing is fairly sturdy and is attached securely in place so it does not move. When this type of mattress needs to be cleaned it's as simple as removing the sheets, getting a couple of rags and a suitable cleaning chemical, and cleaning it the same way you would your kitchen counters.

Waterproof Mattresses Are Hot

Despite all of their upsides, the biggest downside of the waterproof mattress is the fact that it sleeps very hot. In other words, a waterproof mattress does not absorb and/or dissipate body heat. Instead, it reflects it back up. That means you will feel warmer on a waterproof mattress under normal circumstances. On a very warm night during the summer, you may actually perspire to a much greater degree than you would with a conventional mattress.

There is a solution to this dilemma which was invented by the same people who created the adjustable air mattress. It is a heat dissipating pad that you place between the top of your mattress and the fitted sheet. This pad captures the heat coming off your body and disperses it across its surface, thereby dissipating much of it. It can keep you several degrees cooler on a very warm night.

It's unlikely that most of us will have the need for a waterproof mattress over the long run. But it's nice to know that they are made if the need ever arises. To find a store in your area that carries waterproof mattresses a simple online search will do.