Worried about dust mites and allergens? Have expensive pillows that you want to keep clean? We review the best pillow covers, protectors and encasements so your pillows can stay clean and hygienic for many years to come.
If you are in a hurry and want to know what the best pillow cover and protector is, we recommend the Feelathome 100% Cotton Pillowcase And Cover With Waterproof Lining To Protect Your Pillow.
Pillows can harbor a build-up of dirt and allergens which may result from oils, dead skin cells, dust mites, body fluids, and spills among other sources.
The combination is not only uncomfortable but can also trigger allergies or skin breakouts and cause odors.
Pillow protectors provide a barrier against all these and keep the surface of your pillow clean and comfortable.
In addition, waterproof pillow protectors prevent damp conditions that encourage the multiplication of bacteria and dust mites in your pillow, significantly reducing their population and effects.
Based on qualities that make some pillow protectors better than others, here are the best pillow covers and protectors.
Best Pillow Cover And Protector
Feelathome 100% Cotton Pillowcase And Cover With Waterproof Lining To Protect Your Pillow
What puts FeelAtHome pillow cover among the best pillow protectors is its material, construction, and easy care.
It is made of 100% cotton and sateen weaved for extra softness and comfort. This gives it the cooling, noiseless, hypoallergenic, and breathable properties of cotton.
The pillow protector is waterproof which keeps your pillow dry and discourages the multiplication of dust mites and other allergens.
It also comes with a secure quality zipper to keep your pillow secured.
FeelAtHome waterproof pillow protector is machine washable. The manufacturers recommend a monthly wash or a more frequent wash if you have oily hair.
It is available in standard, queen, king, and body pillow sizes and is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.
Best Pillow Protectors
Niagara Sleep Solution 4 Pack Pillow Protectors
The Niagara Sleep Solution pillow protectors come backed by over 9.5k ratings and a generous lifetime replacement guarantee.
Made from Oeko-Tex certified 100% cotton material and featuring a 400 thread count sateen weave, the Niagara Sleep Solution 4 pack pillow covers are breathable, hypoallergenic, and machine washable.
The pillow protectors are designed to withstand numerous washings without shrinking or wearing.
With reinforced seams, elegant stitching, and a strong zipper, the high thread count hotel-quality pillow covers not only protect your pillows but also give your bed an elegant finish.
The Niagara sleep Solution hypoallergenic pillow protectors come in standard, king, queen, and toddler sizes and in packs of 2 or 4.
Best Pillow Protectors For Down And Feather Pillows
Pillowtex Feather And Down Proof 100% Cotton Pillow Protector
What makes this the best pillow protector for down and feather pillows is its ability to keep down and feather ends from poking through.
Pillowtex pillow protector is made of 100 percent cotton, making it breathable, cooling, and cozy. It is 100% waterproof to protect your pillow from dampness.
The pillow protector also blocks dandruff, pet dander, dust mites, and other allergens that may have found their way into your pillow.
This is especially helpful if you suffer from allergies.
With a zipper enclosure, your pillow stays in place even when you turn and toss in your sleep.
The cover comes in standard, queen, king, and jumbo sizes and is returnable within 30 days of your purchase.
Best Breathable Pillow Protectors
Circleshome 100% Cotton Breathable Pillow Covers
Circleshome 100 percent cotton pillow protectors are constructed to fit snuggly, providing a smooth, noiseless, and silky soft sleeping surface.
The hypoallergenic pillow protectors are also breathable and cool to the touch to keep you cool and dry throughout the night.
Do you have a thing for DIYs? Then this is your best pillow protector!
You can use it to either cover an existing pillow or stuff it with memory foam, down, or the fill of your choice to make your own pillow.
With a thread count of 200, the material features a tight weave that does not allow feathers or down to poke through.
The smooth gliding zipper helps you remove and replace the machine washable cover with ease.
Circleshome pillow protectors come in standard, queen, and king sizes and are packaged in a variety of sets.
Best Waterproof Pillow Protector
Coolshields Silky Waterproof Pillow Protectors
Coolshields waterproof Pillow Protectors are made of premium Oeko-Tex certified Tencel fabric that is soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, and cool.
It is then fitted with an inner waterproof fabric that not only locks out sweat and spills but also keeps dust mites, bedbugs, and allergens from passing through.
This combination of properties protects your pillow from stains and helps people who suffer from asthma and allergy get a better night’s sleep.
The set of 2 zippered pillow protectors comes in standard, queen, and king sizes. It is machine washable and can be returned for a full refund.
Best Breathable Waterproof Pillow Protector
Everlasting Comfort Waterproof Pillow Protectors With Breathable Membrane
These waterproof pillow protectors by Everlasting Comfort come backed by over 7k customer ratings on Amazon!
They are designed to be full damp-proof zippered pillow encasements
Allergy sufferers can rest easy with these covers; they are made of polyester terry fabric, tightly woven to block dust mites, allergens, bedbugs, and dirt.
The material is further reinforced with a breathable 100% waterproof membrane that locks out liquids yet allows air to pass through.
This protector pillow cover is washing machine safe and is available in standard, queen, and king sizes.
Each set is covered by a lifetime warranty against defects.
Best Bamboo Waterproof Pillow Protector
Plushdeluxe Bamboo Waterproof Pillow Protectors
PlushDeluxe pillow protectors combine the plush and super soft surface of a bamboo/polyester fabric with a 100% waterproof membrane to give you a cozy, clean, and dry surface to lay your head on.
It protects your pillow from all kinds of fluids and blocks common allergy triggers such as pet dander and dust mite waste products.
A zippered closure ensures that your pillow is fully encased at all times.
To clean the hypoallergenic protector, you just need to machine wash and tumble dry it. It comes in standard, queen, and king sizes.
The manufacturers are so confident in their product that they back it up with a money-back guarantee and a 10-year full product replacement.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best-rated pillow protectors, you can’t go wrong with any of the products above.
Top features that pitch them above others include easy care, easy use, breathability, waterproof protection, after-sale service, and customer rating.
To this end, our editor’s best overall pillow protector is Feelathome 100% Cotton Pillowcase And Cover With Waterproof Lining To Protect Your Pillow.
What to consider when buying pillow protectors
Is a pillow protector the same as a pillowcase?
Pillow protectors differ from pillowcases in that protectors encase your pillow and shuts it in with a zipper. They protect pillows from bugs and allergens like bed bugs, dust mites, pet dander, and pollen.
Oftentimes, pillow protectors also feature waterproof properties to keep your pillow from getting wet or stained.
Pillowcases, on the other hand, are open on one end and usually provide decorative covering.
Do you need a pillowcase with a pillow protector?
The choice to use a pillowcase with a pillow protector is purely personal. If you do, you should put the pillowcase over the pillow protector.
Alternatively, a pillow protector is designed to be used as a protective pillowcase and can be used on its own.
Do you wash pillow protectors?
Since pillow protectors collect dirt build-up from oils, body fluids, dust, and dead skin cells, and should, therefore, be washed to keep them clean and fresh.
That said, you should always check and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions to preserve the life and quality of your pillow protector.
Do pillow protectors stop dust mites?
Yes, as physical shields, pillow protectors keep dust mites from moving into or out of your pillows.
Further, waterproof protectors discourage the damp conditions necessary for bacteria and dust mite multiplication.
There’s evidence that this significantly reduces the number of dust mites, allergens, and bacteria in the pillow.