Blog | American Bedding

Fabric FAQs: Answers to Your Vinyl and Nylon Mattress Questions

Written by Hali Reynolds | Aug 30, 2017 12:00:00 PM

The smartest people are the often those who ask the most questions.

At American Bedding, our customers ask a lot of questions, and that's a good thing! It means they're serious about buying mattresses and replacement mattress covers that are right for their specific organization. By asking questions, they learn more about the product they end up buying and have a better idea of how to care for it

We've compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions we hear from our customers. Take a look, and you may find the answer to a question you didn't even know you had!

How much does vinyl weigh?

Vinyl weighs about 10 ounces per square yard.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl?

Like anything, vinyl mattress covers have their pros and cons. Here they are...

Advantages

  • Waterproof
  • Antibacterial
  • Stain resistant
  • Bed bug resistant
  • Wipes clean

Disadvantages

  • Stiffer than nylon
  • Can contribute to body heat buildup

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nylon?

Nylon mattresses have many of the same advantages as vinyl, but there are a few significant differences between the two fabrics. Let's take a closer look...

Advantages

  • Waterproof
  • Antibacterial
  • Stain resistant
  • Bed bug resistant
  • Wipes clean
  • Softer than vinyl
  • Reduces body heat build up

Disadvantages

  • Not as waterproof when subjected to moisture for long periods of time (such as when kids wet the bed at night)

How should I clean my covers?

You can easily clean your replacement mattress covers by spraying them with a non-bleach disinfectant and wiping them a with damp cloth. 

While we do not recommend using bleach or bleach-based cleaners on mattress covers, if you choose to use bleach, be sure to dilute the mixture to a ratio of 10:1. Otherwise, the harsh bleach can damage the fabric.

Do not put your mattress covers in the washing machine. Doing so will destroy the fabric.

What is the difference between vinyl and OX nylon?

The manufacturing process looks very different for these two fabrics. Vinyl is a 3-ply or tri-laminate fabric, which means two layers of vinyl are laminated on either side of a polyester substrate called scrim. Vinyl is a waterproof material and requires no extra coatings to make it that way.

On the other hand, SOFlux-OX is a woven nylon fabric that has a polyurethane coating to give it that waterproof quality.

One thing they have in common is that both fabrics are treated with an EPA-approved bactericide to make them antibacterial.

What makes the OX fabric fluid proof?

Nylon has a polyurethane coating that makes it waterproof.

What does 3-ply mean?

3-ply refers to the three layers that make up our vinyl fabric. Because vinyl is laminated on either side of the scrim, it's called a tri-laminate fabric.

Can the comfort guard fabric be bed bug proof?

Yes! Comfort-guard is a knit fabric that can be made with a bed-bug proof design. The benefit of this fabric is that it is machine washable and dryable in temperatures of up to 140 degrees.

What makes the comfort guard fabric fluid proof?

It has a polyurethane backing that makes it waterproof.

Does the fabric stain?

SOFlux-OX Nylon, AntiBAC Vinyl, and Comfort Guard fabrics are all stain resistant. However, SOFlux OX can become discolored when acidic body fluids sit on it for long periods of time.

Still have questions?

Give us a call! Our expert sales team is more than happy to discuss any questions that this article either created or didn't answer regarding vinyl mattresses and nylon mattresses. You can also contact us online, or click on the banner below to request a catalog!