The Naturepedic Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad is fully GOTS certified organic and uses only a thin layer of TPU for breathable waterproofing. In our book, that makes this one of the best non-toxic, eco-friendlier mattress protectors around. Here’s our review, with pros and cons, based on personal experience.
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Naturepedic Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad
Highlights: Certified organic mattress protector pad comprising organic cotton jersey and a thin layer of hardwearing TPU. Breathable, non-sweaty, and noiseless. Made by a well-regarded company. Ships in plastic packaging though.
- GOTS certified organic and MadeSafe certified
- Very affordable
- Soft and comfortable
- Stretchy organic cotton jersey fabric for snug fit
- Noiseless, breathable, and no off-gassing
- Machine washable and can be tumble dried
- Non-toxic and sustainable
- Made in a GOTS factory
- 30-night money back, free returns, 1-year warranty
- Sustainable family-run company that uses green energy
- Contains TPU
- Not a full mattress encasement
- Only fits 9-16-inch mattress depths
- Ships in a plastic bag
At a glance:
- Materials: Organic cotton jersey, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)
- Certifications: GOTS, MadeSafe, 1% for the Planet, Greenguard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free UL
- Cost: $109-$179
- Sizes available: Twin, Twin Xl, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
- Depths: Fits 9-16-inch deep mattresses
Naturepedic is one of our favorite bedding companies at Leaf Score. These folks know how to make top quality non-toxic, sustainable mattresses, pillows, and, happily, mattress protectors.
When I needed a new mattress protector for co-sleeping with my toddler, the Naturepedic Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector Pad was one of my top choices. Since that time, we have started manufacturing our own mattress protector at LeafScore, which is also excellent, and it ships plastic-free. LeafScore readers can use code LEAFSCOREREADER for 15% off our protector in the LeafScore store.
This protector is fully GOTS certified, meaning that even the thin layer of waterproof TPU meets GOTS organic standards as non-toxic. Just to be sure, this protector also carries other important green certifications for mattress protectors, including MadeSafe, Greenguard Gold, and Formaldehyde-Free by UL.
What we like
If you’re looking for an affordable mattress protector and, like me, don’t want to compromise on sustainability, Naturepedic is a top choice. This mattress protector holds all the most important green certifications and still comes in at under $200 even for larger sizes.
The protector comprises a thin layer of breathable TPU between organic cotton stretch jersey fabric. It has a fully elastic skirt also made of organic cotton and contains no harmful chemicals. In fact, the protector is unbleached and undyed, certified formaldehyde-free, and carries MadeSafe and GOTS certification, as well as Greenguard Gold certification.
That all means you won’t find any off-gassing from this mattress protector, nor do you need to worry about phthalates, PVC, or endocrine disruptors.
TPU is non-toxic and is classed as a food-safe material. This is because TPU does not contain any endocrine disruptors or other dangerous substances, as detailed in the European Union REACH Compliance (EC) No 1907/2006 standard.
TPU is also hard-wearing and has good temperature resistance, which may make it more durable than polyurethane. That said, TPU tends to age faster in general and be more expensive as making it is a more involved process.
Our experience
Thanks to the layers of stretch jersey organic cotton above and below the TPU membrane, this mattress protector has no discernable effect on the feel of a mattress. And the layer of TPU is so thin and so well sandwiched that it’s noiseless.
We’ve had this protector on our bed for a few weeks and I mostly just forget it’s there.
When I opened the box and bag containing the Naturepedic mattress protector, I didn’t notice any plasticky or chemical smell from the protector itself. I’m pretty sensitive to smell, so I gave it a good sniff to be sure. All I got was a fresh cotton smell that quickly dissipated. When the protector was on the bed with a sheet over it, I couldn’t detect any smell at all.
Naturally, the plastic bag smells of plastic. Luckily, we have soft plastic recycling nearby.
Is it sweaty?
I sleep hot, and I will say that if you’re an especially sweaty or hot sleeper, or live somewhere really humid, you may prefer a mattress protector pad that has absorbent cotton or wool quilting. See our reviews of mattress protector pads from Avocado and Turmerry for good choices. This is one of the reasons I prefer my Avocado mattress protector pad to the Naturepedic one.
Regardless of the manufacturer, a thinner protector made with a single layer of organic cotton on top of synthetic membrane will always be less breathable than a pad where there’s more natural material between you and the TPU or polyurethane.
That said, compared to old-school PVC mattress protectors, the Naturepedic protector is totally different. This protector is moisture-wicking, breathable, and as non-sweaty as it comes. If you hold the protector up to your face, you can breathe through it. So, while it’s not as breathable as a simple layer of cotton, it’s not too far off.
Despite sleeping on it during some really hot summer nights, I haven’t found the Naturepedic protector to be especially sweaty. What I did notice was a difference between sleeping on this protector with percale sheets and with sateen sheets. The latter combination wasn’t as cool and dry, so something to consider if you’re dressing your bed mid-summer.
Is it waterproof?
I didn’t have to wait long to find out if the Naturepedic Mattress Protector was waterproof. Thankfully, this wasn’t because of my toddler. Instead, I accidentally tipped a glass of water over the bed.
Under normal circumstances, this would have saturated the mattress. I would have had to mop things up with towels and use a hairdryer to do my best to dry out the mattress.
Fortunately, with the mattress protector, all I had to do was whisk off the fitted sheet, use the sheet to mop up the water pooled on top of the protector, then put a fresh sheet on the bed. Voila!
I’m yet to challenge the protector by dumping a full cup of tea on it, but I’m sure that will happen at some point.
All in all, my clumsiness helped to confirm that, yes, the Naturepedic Mattress Protector is genuinely waterproof. Thank goodness.
Downsides
It’s hard to find anything to criticize with this mattress protector! If I were to hone in on one nitpick it would be that Naturepedic is a little less transparent than Avocado about its materials and veers toward greenwashing with its use of ‘DrySleep’ technology to describe its layer of TPU.
To be clear, Naturepedic does make it very obvious that there is TPU in this mattress protector. I just don’t love it when companies try to make it sound like they’ve found a magical solution for something unavoidable and imperfect (synthetic materials for waterproofing).
One other nitpick is that unlike Avocado, Naturepedic may still use elasticated polyester for the perimeter elastic of this protector. Again, it’s not clear if that’s the case, but Avocado is very clear it uses organic cotton and rubber for the elastic.
Finally, it would be nice to see Naturepedic make this mattress protector in a deeper size to fit mattresses that are more than 16-inches deep.
Naturepedic ships using mostly sustainable packaging. Unfortunately, my mattress protector did arrive in a reusable bag wrapped in plastic, which seems rather unnecessary. At least there was no additional plastic inside the bag though, just tissue paper, and cardboard.
Sizing and fit
Naturepedic sizes this mattress protector overly large, so as to allow some shrinkage when you first wash it. The company recommends you wash it prior to use, otherwise it will be a loose fit.
This mattress protector fits mattresses up to 16-inches deep. That means most mattress plus topper combinations should fit just fine. However, if you need a deeper pocket, check out the Avocado Mattress Protector (see our review). The Deep Pocket option can fit up to 22-inches deep.
I found that the mattress protector was a little loose for my 10-inch deep Queen size mattress without washing it first. After an initial go through the laundry, the protector was more snug, though it still had plenty of stretch over the sides and corners.
Care and maintenance
Like Avocado’s mattress protector, Naturepedic’s is machine washable and can be dried on low (though air-drying is preferable). It’s best not to wash waterproof mattress protectors too often, given that TPU degrades faster with heat, flexing, and moisture. And, where possible, use cold water and a gentle cycle.
For more minor spills and leaks, spot-cleaning is best. You can also remove the protector and spot-clean moderate spills, then air dry the protector before putting it back on the bed.
I washed mine when it first arrived in early summer and hung it on the line to dry. It didn’t take long to dry fully, which was great for getting it back on the bed fast. Washing it in fall and winter is a different story as I tried hanging it in my bathroom to dry but found it stayed damp to the touch for longer than I’d like. I ended up drying it on low in the dryer, which I’m loathe to do as it degrades the TPU.
If you can, definitely prioritize any routine washing for days when you can line dry this protector. Otherwise, be sure it’s fully dry before you put it back on your mattress.
Final thoughts
Naturepedic offers one of the best waterproof mattress protectors around. I’ve found it to be effective and comfortable for sleep, and I love that it’s fully certified organic and made by a sustainable company. With proper care, I can see this protector lasting a long time. Probably longer than my current mattress!
I also like that this protector is affordable and comes in mostly sustainable packaging (with room for improvement).
All in all, the Naturepedic Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector is a top choice for a non-toxic, eco-friendly and certified organic safeguard for your mattress. I’m already planning to get another one for my guestroom mattress!
Essential Mattress Protector
Highlights: Certified organic mattress protector comprising organic GOTS certified cotton and a thin layer of hardwearing TPU. Breathable, non-sweaty, and noiseless. Ships plastic free.