I threw everything at a $119 mattress protector and a $21 alternative — but which can survive our dreaded red wine test?

The best mattress protectors are the unsung heroes of the bedroom — coffee in bed becomes a much riskier prospect without one. So when it comes to keeping your mattress safe from spills and stains, is it better to save or splurge on a waterproof mattress protector?First things first: a mattress protector is a non-negotiable. When liquids get into your mattress they can cause the materials to degrade, as well as potentially supporting mold growth. If you've bought the best mattress for your sleep needs, you need to keep it safe.But before you splash the cash on a luxury mattress protector, we did some splashing of our own. I poured water, coffee, wine and other liquids on a $119 Purple Mattress Protector and a $21 Linenspa Mattress Encasement to see which kept our mattress sparkling clean. Here's the one I trust with my Sunday evening Syrah...Meet the mattress protectorsHow we tested our mattress protectorsWe wanted to put our mattress protectors through the wringer: how would they cope if a very clumsy person had a feast in bed?To do this, we wrapped each protector around a white mattress (to better show stains). We then tossed a variety of substances onto them both. Primarily liquids, we also tried some heavier, oiler substances as well — hand lotion and guacamole.Each substance was left for five minutes, to give it time to soak in. We then blotted any excess and lifted the mattress protector to see what lay beneath. In other words, was there any seepage?Finally, we washed the mattress protectors to see how easily each stain was lifted.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Test 1: Hand lotionGreasy skincare can leave mattress stains, plus it's a nightmare to clean up. We rubbed a blob of hand lotion into our protectors to see what happens... Purple Mattress Protector — Hand cream test - YouTube Watch On Test one, and Purple was off to a flying start. The waterproof mattress protector stopped any hint of lotion from reaching to bed. Plus, the shiny surface was easy to wipe excess from. Linenspa Mattress Encasement — Hand cream test - YouTube Watch On But the Linenspa wasn't going to get left behind. No hand cream made it to the mattress and we could wipe away the cream with ease.Test 2: GuacamoleChunky guacamole served as a counterpoint to our wetter tests. And, without being crass, has a remarkable resemblance to vomit. (I'm saying this as an avo-enthusiast.)Easy to wipe up and zero seepage — a success for the Purple Mattress Protector. Linenspa Mattress Encasement — Guacamole test - YouTube Watch On Similarly, the Linenspa held its own against the guac test. So while we don't advice chips and dip in bed, it shouldn't end in disaster.Test 3: WaterI keep a bottle of water by my bedside for the morning. If I take a sip before my hand-eye coordination has woken up, that can result in spillage.You really don't want water seeping into your mattress. It can settle in the materials causing damp and, in some cases, mattress mold. If you've noticed yourself sneezing in bed, it's worth checking for signs of mold.So how did our protectors do in the water test?Purple kept the water spill contained and prevented it from going through to the bed. This is particularly good for families who might deal with bed wetting instances. Expect easy clean up and the mattress to stay fresh.Again, the Linenspa prevented anything sinking into the mattress materials. However, the water spill quickly spread out and left a lot of the surface damp. If an accident occurs, everyone will know.Test 4: CoffeeWho doesn't enjoy the occasional cup of coffee in bed? But if your lazy Sunday morning ends in disaster, here's what you can expect from these mattress protectors. Purple Mattress Protector — Coffee test - YouTube Watch On The coffee spill settled where we poured it on the Purple Mattress Protector, although blotting did cause some spread. But it all stayed on the surface, with nothing sinking into the bed below. Linenspa Mattress Encasement — Coffee test - YouTube Watch On A splash of coffee turned into a swimming pool on the Linenspa Encasement but the good news is, it didn't sink into the mattress.Test 5: WineNow for the big one — red wine.No judgement if you enjoy a glass of wine in bed after a long day, but a wine spill is a big no-no for a mattress. Alcohol is not good for memory foam and red wine stains are difficult to remove.We splashed a glass of bottom shelf Syrah onto each mattress protector and waited five minutes. Here's how it went: Purple Mattress Protector — Red wine test - YouTube Watch On One the Purple, the wine pooled immediately. And sat there. After five minutes we employed a barrage of paper towels to mop it up. But no wine made it to the mattress.There was a similar result on the Linenspa, although the initial spread made blotting the wine trickier. No stain, though.As a bonus, this video also shows just how long it takes one person to take a mattress encasement off a queen sized bed. I easily hit my step goal for the day after this.Test 6: How well does each mattress protector clean up?So you've spilled your wine and guacamole all over your bed. Thankfully, your mattress is fine. But, oh no, your mattress protector is covered in stains!Fellow tester Frances Daniels took both protectors home and washed them that evening. This resulted in a few hours between the tests ending and the mattress protectors getting cleaned. (At home, you should aim to wash quicker.)She placed the protectors in a cold wash using a non-bio detergent. Each mattress protector was left to air dry before being tumble dried. Image 1 of 2 The tea and coffee made a mark on the Purple Mattress Protector (Image credit: Future) The Purple Waterproof Mattress Protector showed more signs of staining than the Linenspa, even after cleaning.We suspect this is because liquids spread further on the Linenspa, reducing the build-up in any single place.On the Purple Protector, the liquids pooled. This made it easier to blot up but might have led to the darker stains you can see above.Verdict: Which mattress protector should you buy?We threw everything at these mattress protectors. Literally. There were no more liquids left in our Sleep Lab to test.The result? Two sparkling clean mattresses: Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Future) Neither protector allowed any liquids to get through to the mattress beneath. Both beds were bone dry, meaning your errant spill is unlikely to sink into the materials. So being clumsy with a cup of coffee shouldn't lead to a moldy bed.And while both protectors showed some signs of staining, for the most part they cleaned up well. If you clean quicker than we did (our Sleep Lab is equipped with a lot, but not a washing machine), expect less staining.So it's conclusive, right? Save your money and go for something cheap?If it's just waterproofing you want, the yes. The Linenspa formed a super effective barrier against all our liquids. If you want to protect against sweat, urine, or your Sunday morning breakfast in bed, it'll do the job. (Image credit: Future)But the Purple protector did better at containing liquids. A small splash of water spread far and wide on the Linenspa, making it harder to clean. (And potentially disturbing anyone else in the bed.)The Purple Mattress Protector is also quieter and softer. And as someone who has wrested to get the Linenspa Encasement on a mattress, the Purple is much, much, much easier to use.Our favorite sleep essentials Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra Tea (20ct) Jersey Slumber Silk Sleep Mask Coop Sleep Goods Ultra Tech Waterproof Mattress Protector (twin) Brooklinen Classic Percale Sheet Set (twin) Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.