Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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Brooklinen’s pillow protector is made with a silky soft cotton that our tester loved sleeping on partly because she didn’t notice it at all. Read More
You can’t go wrong with this pillow protector that has an easy-to-use zipper and low price point. Read More
This stain-resistant, AAFA-certified pillow protector is a great option for people with allergies. Read More
Allerease’s cotton pillow protector isn’t certified against allergies by the AAFA, but it’s a solid, well-sized option that resisted staining in our tests. Read More
The Niagara Sleep Solutions pillow performed reasonably well all around, but didn’t impress quality upon our tester. Read More
After a while, even a good pillow will start showing signs of wear and tear. Finding a pillow that cradles your head and neck in just the right way is a treasure, so buying a pillow protector to give it some extra safety and protection makes sense.
We’ve tested all kinds of pillow encasements, and Brooklinen (available at Brooklinen) came through as our top pick yet again—the company makes our favorite bed sheets and down pillow, and their high quality, silky smooth pillow protector that resisted our best efforts at staining.
Brooklinen's pillow protector impressed us with its soft fabric, comfort, and limited staining.
The Room Essential Pillow Protectors from Target were affordable at less than $10 for a pack of two.
National Allergy's Allersoft pillow protector is AAFA certified, meaning it met stringent criteria for allergy-proofness.
Stain-resistant
Cotton
Good size
Wrinkles
Slightly shrank
Didn’t stain
Easy zipper
Excessive fabric
Absorbed liquid
Didn’t stain
Big for standard pillows
Somewhat difficult zipper
Didn’t stain
Shrank
Prone to wrinkling
Small for larger or well-stuffed pillows
Top-notch quality
Too bulky to sleep on
Adds dimension to pillow
Impermeable
Stained
Picked up lint
Noticeable texture
We wanted to be sure we assessed every aspect of pillow protectors, from how they stood up to washing and staining to how they might change someone’s sleep experience—they have a reputation for being noisy, after all. Here’s what you need to know.
I’m Lindsey, former sleep writer here at Reviewed. I covered all things sleep—from products as big as mattresses, to things as little as Bose’s Sleepbuds and as invisible as pillow protectors. I devote myself, day and night, to the mission of maximizing each and every hour I spend asleep so that I can help you sleep better, too.
We put each pillow protector through three rounds of testing. We tested how machine washable they were and their stain resistance in the lab. We started there, since most people will launder pillow protectors before using them.
Afterward, I slept on each for a few nights. I looked for common issues that came up in reviews, like noise and zipper quality. I also used my sleep testing expertise to assess quality issues like comfort, whether they slept hot, and whether they changed my sleep.
Following an at-home stint, the pillow protectors were subjected to an additional stain test, and we ran each through the washer and dryer five times to see if it was easy to clean, gauge its longevity, and see whether it shrank at different wash temperatures. I also checked every product’s zipper by opening and closing it 20 times.
Pillow protectors are among the simplest bedroom accessories you might buy—but there are still a few things you'll want to know.
One common misconception is that pillow protectors and pillowcases are one and the same. Though they’re both made of fabric, a pillowcase is part of your typical bedding set. A pillow protector goes on your pillow before the pillowcase and provides an additional buffer for your pillow from dirt like makeup, sweat, and other things. You'll want to use both to keep your pillow in the best shape possible.
They can serve many purposes, from waterproof pillow protectors protection for drool, to allergy-proof ones that protect your pillow from allergens like dust mites and help minimize your symptoms. In any case, a pillow protector can prolong a pillow’s life.
Pillow protectors work by creating a barrier from moisture—whether it’s sweat or drool. Pillows can cultivate all sorts of things, ranging from dead bugs and dust mites to various fungi. So a little extra buffer can’t hurt.
Not all pillow protectors are equal when it comes to allergens. Most of the products we tested claim hypoallergenic properties on their labels, though it doesn’t actually mean much. In fact, the word “hypoallergenic” doesn’t have a standard definition, says Dr. John McKeon, the CEO of Allergy Standards. There’s only one way to really know a pillow protector is allergen-proof: a seal from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
An AAFA certification indicates that a pillow protector passed rigorous testing that includes:
The AAFA certification has criteria that even pertains to the barrier created by the pillow protector’s zipper, McKeon says.
Even with a pillow protector, you need to wash your bedding regularly, including laundering your pillow protector at least every couple of weeks.
Pillow protectors can be made of a slew of materials. Beyond just cotton pillow protectors, you’ll find everything from natural fabrics to basically a vinyl plastic bag for your pillow. You’ll even find options in between, like microfiber and polyester blends.
Historically, I prefer pillow protectors made of natural fabrics. They tend to be more breathable and I don’t like the sensation of sleeping on plastic or vinyl. You may think this would make the protector less protective and allergy-proof—but that’s not always the case.
A textile’s weave contributes to its efficacy against allergens. Tightly woven fabrics can be a sufficient barrier against the biggest allergens, like dust mites. A handful of AAFA-certified products are made with cotton and silk, so it’s easy to find something that will work for you and your personal needs.
Lindsey writes about sleep, lifestyle, and more for Reviewed. In her waking hours, she likes to spend time outside, read, cook, and bake. She holds a master’s in journalism from Boston University and bachelors' degrees in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Utah.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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