Countless times, I’ve spilled something or my kids have spilled something on the bed. Whether it was water, wine, koolaid, or a middle of the night accident, it has always stained the mattress. It left an odor and it also left me wondering why I didn’t have protection for my mattress. I didn’t realize how beneficial mattress encasements were until I was able to test one. I was given the Sleep Defense System mattress encasement to test out and now I can share my findings with you.
Presenting The Sleep Defense System Mattress Encasement
The Sleep Defense System mattress encasement offers 100% bed bug protection with a 100% waterproof barrier on all 6 sides of the mattress. The zippered, stretchable polyester knit fabric is soft and can fit any mattress with a depth of 12”-18”. The water membrane attached to this fabric won’t trap heat, which means you’ll remain cool and comfortable as you sleep.
This encasement is ideal for those who need protection from bed bugs, dust mites, allergens, bacteria, and small spills that may occur. If you already have a bed bug problem, it’ll work well for keeping them inside of the bed. The zipper lock with the included zip ties will keep the zipper secure and the bugs inside to die.
This protector isn’t meant for those who may suffer from incontinence. It isn’t meant to hold a lot of liquid and the scent from urine may transfer to the mattress, potentially voiding your warranty.
Features & Benefits
This section explains everything everything about the features and benefits of the Sleep Defense System mattress encasement. I will also go over all of my tests that I performed on it including the sleep test, zipper lock, liquid absorption, and overall performance.
Protection
The Sleep Defense System gives you complete protection against small spills/leaks and bed bugs. It also wards off allergies and bacteria. It’s very stretchy and easily zips for maximum protection. The zip ties that are include ensure that the zipper stays tightly closed and ensures the bugs can’t enter or escape.
Waterproof
To test the waterproof claim, I poured 8 ounces of water onto the encasement and let it sit for 8 hours. I observed it after 10 minutes and every two hours after that. Each time I went in the bedroom, up until the 6th hour, the spill had soaked into the encasement and the puddle had gotten bigger. There was a towel under the encasement to ensure nothing leaked onto the mattress.
As far as I could tell, the waterproof barrier held up quite well, even for a larger spill than it should be able to handle. As you can see from the pictures, the only thing that changed after two hours was the color of the water. The more it soaked in, the lighter it got.
Note: The protector is only meant to handle small amounts of liquids. If the liquids sit for more than a few hours, it could eventually make its way to the mattress. The odors from any spills or leaks could also transfer to your mattress. My protector did pass an eight hour test, but it may not prove effective with other types of spills or amounts.
Bed Bug Protection
One of my favorite features of this encasement is that it comes with zip ties to ensure the zipper stays in place. It also has the velcro flap that protects the zipper, which was nice and tight when in use. As long as the zipper is tight against the mattress, there’s no chance of bugs entering or exiting the mattress. I put one of the zip ties on the zipper (it connects to a small fabric piece) to see how well it held up-it passed.
You might be interested: A Buyers Guide For The Best Bed Bug Mattress Encasements
Allergy Blocker
If dust mites make their way to the surface of your mattress, it could potentially lead to an allergic reaction. You may get the sniffles, watery eyes, a stuffy or watering nose, coughing, and so on. With the allergy blocker that the Sleep Defense System has, there’s no chance of allergens exiting through the zipper. I don’t suffer from allergies, so I didn’t notice a change in the way I felt when I woke up.
Washable
If dust mites make their way to the surface of your mattress, it could potentially lead to an allergic reaction. You may get the sniffles, watery eyes, a stuffy or watering nose, coughing, and so on. With the allergy blocker that the Sleep Defense System has, there’s no chance of allergens exiting through the zipper. I don’t suffer from allergies, so I didn’t notice a change in the way I felt when I woke up.
Construction
The Sleep Defense System encasement is made from a stretchable polyester fabric with a special 1ml waterproof backing. The cover is soft to touch and doesn’t really make a sound when moved upon. It doesn’t contain any vinyl, PVC, phthalates, or fire retardant coatings of any kind. The high thread-count knit fabric contains an extra-tough seam construction that is sure to hold up over many years of use.
Comfort
I didn’t really feel a difference when it was under my sheets. I did notice that it would bunch up once in awhile, which was more irritating than anything. It didn’t hold heat, so I didn’t find myself overheating and it didn’t make a sound underneath me. Other than that, there wasn’t really much of a difference between that and the sheet I sleep on.
Maintenance, Protection, Care and Warranty
Now that you know everything about the Sleep Defense System, it’s time to learn about how to care for it and how it protects you in terms of a warranty.
Maintenance & Care
For this encasement, there really isn’t much you can do in terms of maintenance. If you can keep the zipper lock in place, you should be fine in terms of keeping bugs out, or in, depending. It should definitely be washed once in awhile, especially if something leaks on it or if it becomes dirty.
As I said above, you can throw it in the washing machine on a cold, delicate cycle with absolutely no bleach, Bleach may ruin the encasement or compromise its integrity. When you throw it in the dryer, make sure it’s on a low heat tumble setting. If the heat is too high, it could burn the encasement and voiding the warranty.
Warranty
Within a period of 20 years from the date of purchase, if the product becomes defective through normal household wear, the manufacturer will replace the protector as long as it was taken care of per the care instructions. You should follow these simple procedures:
- Launder it properly per manufacturer instructions
- Register the warranty claim within 5 days of damage
- Warranty claims must be processed directly with the manufacturer
- Must have proof of purchase
- You must return damaged products at the cost of the owner for inspection and claim approval.
How Easy Are Returns
In order to return your product, you can contact the manufacturer directly. You will have to pay for the shipping back to them and once they receive it, they will inspect it and determine whether you are entitled to a refund.
Consumer Feedback
Protection
- Zip ties are a great protection measure
- Zip ties are easy to use
- Velcro flap holds strong
- Encasement holds up well
- Zipper teeth are tight
- Holds up against small spills well
Cons
- Does not hold up against large spills that sit for a long period of time
- Bed bugs may breed in the folds
Durability
Pros
- Stretchy material seems strong
- Seams are tightly knitted
- Zipper seems strong
Cons
- Some leaks go right through
- Velcro flap may malfunction
Odor
- No odor detected
Customer Support
- Customer service is Quick to handle claims
- Friendly
- Respond in a timely manner
You might be interested: A Mattress Protector Buyers Guide
Conclusion
The Sleep Defense System mattress encasement offers optimal protection for your mattress against bed bugs, dust mites, allergens, and small leaks. Upon testing all of these things to the best of my ability, I can certainly say that it will hold up against about eight ounces of fluids over a period of eight hours. It seems to hold up well with the zip ties and velcro lock combined, and I do believe that it will hold up against bed bugs.
The Sleep Defense System Mattress Encasement
| Material | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Polyester | Twin12″ standard, Twin 6″ ultra low profile, Twin 9″ ultra low profile, Twin XL 12″ standard, Twin XL 6″ ultra low profile, Twin XL 9″ low profile, Full 12″standard, Full 6″ unltra low profile, Full 9″ low profile, Full XL, Queen 12″ standard, Queen 6″ ultra low profile, Queen 9″ low profile, King 12″ standard, King 6″ ultra low profile, King 9″ low profile, Cali King 12″ standard |
| Odor | Warranty | Shipping Weight or Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 20 Years | 3.9 Pounds | $$ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is protector attached with corner anchors or fitted like a sheet?
Encasement, so it zips up your entire mattress.
Is this protector machine-washable?
Yes, wash in warm water and tumble dry on low heat.
Will the pocket depth be enough for my mattress?
6”, 9”, and 12” options.
Is there a warranty?
Yes. 20 years.