This $20 Amazon Mattress Protector Makes Guest Room Clean Up So Easy –It's Machine Washable, yet Waterproof and 'Breathable'

You don't have to spend big for a hygienic sleep space, and we found this budget pick to be brilliantly effective during our tests

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Cream bedroom with double bed with patterned light brown headboard, white bedding, and orange cushions. To either side of the bed are matching wooden bedside tables with white lamps and white lampshades, and above both are matching oval mirrors
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Using a mattress protector when you have guests coming and going is important. You want to keep the bed in your guest room free of dust, stains, and spillages, and make friends and family feel welcome and relaxed in a fresh-smelling and clean environment.

Luckily, our favorite budget pick, the Amazon Basics Mattress and Box Spring Protector, available at Amazon, costs just $19 and is the most affordable but effective one we've ever tested.

We Love This $19.99 Budget Mattress Protector for Guest Rooms

All prices were correct at the time of publication, and relate to Queen sizes.

While you may think about investing in the best mattress for your guest bedrooms, and the best mattress topper to go along with it, you may pay less attention to the protector.

But this one item is an absolute essential that protects the mattress beneath from spills, stains, and smells. It's particularly handy if you want to keep your guest bedroom ideas looking fresh and inviting with minimal effort, as the Amazon Basics Mattress and Box Spring Protector is machine washable, provong you don't have to spend a fortune to keep beds hygienic.

On test, our expert reviewer and e-commerce editor, Louise Oliphant, remarked that, though not perfect, this budget-friendly pick covers all the necessary bases.

'I can't deny that the Amazon Basics Mattress Protector offers air-tight protection from all angles,' she says. 'Although I wouldn't recommend it for nightly use in your master bedroom, it's a great budget buy for use in your guest bedroom.'

It's also handily machine-washable, making it quick and easy to clean and care for your mattress protector, and is designed to stretch to fit depths from 12 to 18 inches.

Louise isn't the only fan – this protector also has over 6,500 five-star reviews, which, in my experience, is pretty impressive for a protector at this price point.

For example, one recent review, from P K, calls it 'excellent' and highly recommends it, adding, 'I decided to downsize to a twin-size bed, a memory foam model on sale via Amazon. I decided to get a fully-encased mattress protector since I often will sit up in bed, watch TV, and eat.

'I always machine-wash any linen-type item before using it. I unzipped it and washed it on delicate with a "free" type detergent.'

The Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent, available at Walmart, is a good example of this.

'Let me tell you,' they continue, 'it does hold water! I had to be careful taking it out of the washer, being sure to get the water out of it. The point is, I was confident it was waterproof.

After washing and drying on a low heat, and using it for months, the shopper found there was no damage whatsoever and advises it can be cleaned as often as needed.

Anothe review on Amazon from from gtrman1263, details that it's the best liquid and stain-resistant cover they have ever used.

'It doesn't feel like plastic,' they write. 'It's soft and cloth-like. I've spilled quite a few things on it, and never gotten any stain on my mattress. For its purpose, it's absolutely excellent at keeping the little everyday spills and stains off your mattress. It absolutely does that job [and] the fit is good.'

They add that the zipper is 'a little cheap' but they still 'highly recommend this product.'

If you've got more to spend, I recommend the Avocado Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector, which was our overall best on test.

But, if you want something affordable, reliable, and most importantly, durable as spring and summer hosting with warmer nights loom, the cheap and cheerful Amazon Basics Mattress Protector is the one for you.

What to Shop

Can you put a mattress protector in the dryer? Find out more in our expert-led guide.

Ottilie Blackhall
Ottilie Blackhall
Sleep Editor

Ottilie joined Homes & Gardens in 2024 as the News Writer on Solved, after finishing a Master's in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London. Now, as the Sleep Editor, she spends her days hunting deals and producing content on all things sleep – from mattresses and sheets to protectors and pillows, all of which she tests in her own home. She also has particular expertise in home fragrance, covering everything from candles to reed diffusers.

Previously, she has written for Livingetc and Motorsport Magazine, and also has a Master's degree in English Literature and History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, where she developed a love for inspiring interiors and architecture.