Club Benefits
As a sleep writer I seem to spend way too much time thinking about bed bugs, which means I'll do anything to keep the blood-sucking critters out of my mattress. Searching for a solution that wouldn't break the bank, the Linenspa Mattress Encasement, which is only $29.99 for a queen on Amazon, appeared to offer the complete protection I craved.
Because once you've found the best mattress for your sleep style, the last thing you want is to then share it with bed bugs. The Linenspa Encasement provides all-round protection for your mattress, forming an impressive barrier against bed bugs, dust mites, and other nasties.
With just one tiny problem: the Linenspa Mattress Encasement bunches so badly I found myself trapped in a tidal wave of bedding. No bed bugs have gotten me yet — but they might still be fighting their way through piles of polyester...
Key take-aways
- The Linenspa Encasement wraps around your entire mattress to protect every surface, helping stop dust mites and bed bugs.
- It's also waterproof to guard against spills and sweat, without the noisy finish you might expect from budget waterproof bedding.
- It can fit mattresses up to 12 inches tall but it your mattress is thinner than that, expect some excess fabric.
- This fabric has a tendency to bunch up, which can be annoying and makes it hard to move around in the night.
- The encasement is also tricky to get on the mattress although once in place, it's easy to care for.
All-round mattress protection
The best mattress protectors sit over the surface of the mattress to prevent sweat, dead skin, and general grime from seeping into your bed.
Encasements cover every part of the mattress. They're like a big envelope that you slide your mattress into, protecting the top, sides and base.
The Linenspa Encasement is zippered with one opening at the foot of the bed. Once the mattress is in, simply zip the encasement closed and you've formed a 360° barrier.
Not only does the Linenspa Mattress Encasement stop dust from plaguing the sides and underside of your mattress — so it's less enticing to hungry dust mites — it forces bed bugs and other critters to fight past an extra barrier if they want to make a home in your bed.
In this area, the Linenspa is impeccable. As a waterproof protector it effectively guards against spills and sweat, while the six-sided protection means I can be less vigilant about vacuuming the underside of my bed.
However, while I'm always excited to share bed bug removal techniques (I've bored many people with the perks of diatomaceous earth), two things stop me from recommending the Linenspa wholeheartedly...
You'll need a nap after installing it
Ever forced your fitted sheet onto one corner of the mattress only for it to pop off the other, while you hold a third corner and scream?
Installing the Linenspa Mattress Encasement is like this, only worse.
I was given the Linenspa by our bedding expert Becky George, who tried and failed to get it onto her queen-size bed by herself.
At first, I thought I too would be broken by the encasement. Trying to identify the open end was like wrestling with a circus tent and I got my cardio for the day running from one side of the mattress to the other as I slowly edged the bedding in place.
But, eventually, my mattress was snug inside it's protector (...ish, more on that later.)
Since then I've had a few goes at removing and replacing the Linenspa and it does get easier with time. Although I'd never describe the process as 'easy' or 'relaxing.'
Luckily once it's on you only need to wash a mattress protector once every month or two (barring accidents.) In the interim, it will sit quietly guarding your bed against mites, until you almost forget it's there.
Now, about that 'almost'...
You have to get the sizing perfect
My biggest issue with the Linenspa Mattress Encasement is that on my 10-inch Siena Mattress, it's baggy. That doesn't sound like much but trust me, it's caused more than a few 3 a.m. wake ups and late-night tantrums.
The encasement is made for mattresses up to 12 inches deep (designs like the HOSPITOLOGY Encasement on Amazon fit taller mattresses.) That means on my bed, there's two inches of spare fabric flapping around.
At first, I thought tucking the excess under the mattress would solve the problem. And it does work — for a bit.
But eventually the loose fabric works it's way free, often uprooting my fitted sheet with it and creating folds of polyester like waves on a choppy sea.
I know what you're thinking; loose fabric is no big deal, right? But changing position in the night is like wading against the tide when using the Linenspa. Even a slight hip shuffle and I'm entangled in the encasement.
It's like sleeping on laundry, and it's been responsible for more than a few bouts of 'middle insomnia.' I wake up briefly for some unrelated reason (not unusual in a healthy sleep pattern,) go to change position, and now I'm wide awake as I fight against folds of fabric.
I'd almost applaud any bed bug that battled its way through the excess of the Linenspa to settle into my bed. Except, none of them have made it yet...
A barrier against dust, bed bugs, allergens... and sleep
The Linenspa Encasement's major flaw is that on my mattress, it's so loose it becomes inconvenient. It bunches up during the night and makes changing position uncomfortable, in a way that's disruptive to my sleep.
However, if you have a taller mattress (11 to 12 inches), or use a mattress topper, the Linenspa should have a comfortably snug fit. Although, you might find getting on the bed to be even more of a hassle.
Despite this, I still consider an encasement to be a key part of a mattress care toolkit, particularly if you're worried about bed bugs and dust mites.
I can't fault the Linenspa's coverage, delivering waterproof protection to every corner of my bed. And it doesn't have the crunchy-crinkle feel you might expect from a combination of polyester fabric and waterproof coating.
It's an excellent barrier against pests — unfortunately, it sometimes stands in the way of good sleep as well.
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