Waterproof Downright Mattress Protector vs Premium Mattress Topper: which is safer?

Helix Premium Mattress Topper is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Waterproof Downright Mattress Protector

Brooklinen

Waterproof Downright Mattress Protector

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Polyester/cotton blend with waterproof coating (composition unspecified)

Confidence

35%

PossiblePFAS in waterproof coating (fluorinated compounds)

LikelyCoating degradation and microfiber release

PossibleVolatilization of coating components (VOCs/off-gassing)

Our pick

Helix Premium Mattress Topper

Helix

Premium Mattress Topper

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 49/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

polyurethane foam, polyester cover

Confidence

72%

PossibleVolatile Organic Compounds (VOC) off-gassing from polyurethane foam

PossiblePolyester cover degradation and microfiber shedding

PossiblePolyurethane foam degradation and chemical leaching with age

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag PFAS in waterproof coating (fluorinated compounds), Coating degradation and microfiber release and Volatilization of coating components (VOCs/off-gassing) on the Brooklinen and not on the Helix.
  • We flag Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) off-gassing from polyurethane foam, Polyester cover degradation and microfiber shedding, Polyurethane foam degradation and chemical leaching with age and Water-resistant coating composition (undisclosed) on the Helix and not on the Brooklinen.
  • The Brooklinen is Polyester/cotton blend with waterproof coating (composition unspecified) where the Helix is polyurethane foam, polyester cover, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Helix is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Brooklinen grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More mattress protectors: see the full ranking