22 May 2026 by Banana Passion
Summary: A purpose-built waterproof sex blanket is the most effective way to protect your mattress during intimacy. It contains fluids, stays in place, washes easily, and, unlike towels, disposable pads, or general mattress protectors, it is designed for comfort and movement during sex. Below, we break down every option, what each one actually does, what it costs over a year, and how to choose the right setup for your bed, your budget, and how often you’ll use it.
Replacing a queen mattress in Australia can cost between AU$800 and AU$4,500, with most mid-range options sitting around AU$1,800 (Choice Australia mattress buying guide, 2025). Most mattresses are designed to last 7 to 10 years before the foam degrades, but liquid damage can cut that lifespan in half. Once fluid reaches the foam core it is almost impossible to remove fully; the result is staining, odours, and bacterial growth that no amount of surface cleaning will fix.
Sex involves fluids. Lubricants, semen, vaginal fluid, sweat, massage oils, sometimes squirting (if you ever wondered how to, read my blog); these are all part of healthy intimacy, but they are also the things mattress warranties explicitly exclude. Most Australian mattress brands void their warranty the moment a stain appears, regardless of cause.
This isn’t a niche concern. Protecting your mattress during sex is sensible home maintenance, the same way you’d use a coaster under a wine glass.
What are the actual options for protecting a mattress during sex?
There are four practical options. Three of them are workarounds. One of them was built for the job.
This is what most people try first, because it costs nothing.
What towels do well: Soft, already in the cupboard, can be doubled up for more absorbency, and dry quickly.
Where towels fail: A standard Australian bath towel is around 70 × 140 cm, too small for a queen bed (153 × 203 cm) and constantly slides out from underneath. The terry weave absorbs liquid, but it also lets fluid pass straight through the towel and into the sheet, and then the mattress, within seconds of saturation. There is no true waterproof barrier.
Towels work for a quick clean-up. They do not work as actual protection.
These are designed to live under your sheet permanently.
What they do well: Excellent for everyday protection against sweat, dust mites, and minor spills. Most have a waterproof layer on one side and absorbent fabric on the other.
Where they fall short for sex: They sit beneath the bottom sheet, so liquid still soaks through the sheet first. You are still washing the sheet and the protector every single time. Many cheaper protectors use a plastic film that makes a crinkly sound when in motion, and the waterproof layer can trap enough heat to be uncomfortable during sustained activity. They protect the mattress; they don’t simplify the situation.
Mattress protectors are a good baseline, but they are not a sex-specific solution.
Originally designed for medical and aged-care use, sold in Australian pharmacies and supermarkets.
What they do well: Highly absorbent (most hold about 450 ml), single-use convenience, available in packs of 20–30 for around AU$15–25.
Where they fall short: The plastic backing crinkles audibly, the surface is paper-textured and feels cold against skin, and they tear easily under pressure or movement. They feel clinical, which is the opposite of what most couples want during intimacy. The ongoing cost (roughly AU$1 per use) also adds up quickly: at two uses per week, that’s around AU$100 per year just on disposables, and they go straight to landfill.
Disposables solve the absorbency problem but introduce comfort, atmosphere, and sustainability problems.
These are blankets specifically designed for intimacy. They sit on top of the bed (or wherever you are), have a soft fabric surface against the skin, and a waterproof membrane underneath.
What they do well: Designed for the actual use case. Soft top layers (velvety microfibre, ribbed grip fabrics, or quick-drying weaves) feel like part of the bed rather than medical equipment. The waterproof layer, typically a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) membrane, stops fluids from reaching the mattress while remaining breathable enough not to overheat. Large sizes (up to 200 × 220 cm) cover the full sex area on a queen or king bed. Machine washable at 40 °C, tumble dry on low.
Where to use caution: Quality varies dramatically. Cheap versions use PVC backing (sweaty, plasticky, environmentally problematic) or poorly adhered TPU that delaminates after a few washes. Look for OEKO-TEX certified fabrics and TPU (not PVC) waterproofing.
This is the only option built for the job. The other three are workarounds with a side effect.
How do the four options compare side by side?
| Option | Waterproof? | Comfort | Stays in place | Reusable | Cost over 12 months* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath towel | ✗ No | Medium | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | AU$0 (already owned) |
| Mattress protector (under sheet) | ✓ Partial | High (everyday) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ~AU$60–120 |
| Disposable underpads | ✓ Yes | Low | ✗ No | ✗ No | ~AU$100–200 |
| Waterproof sex blanket | ✓ Yes | High | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ~AU$50–120 |
*Costs estimated based on two uses per week over 12 months.
Weigh five things:
1. Size. Match it to your bed and how much area you actually use. A medium (around 140 × 100 cm) suits side-of-bed or chair use. A large or XL (around 200 × 140 cm) covers most of a queen mattress. An XXL (around 200 × 220 cm) covers a king bed end-to-end.
2. Top fabric. Velvety microfibre feels soft and luxurious but can be slippery. Ribbed or textured “grip” fabrics hold position better and add sensation. Quick-drying fabrics suit anyone who wants to wash and reuse the same blanket within a day (or even hours).
3. Waterproof layer. TPU is the gold standard — thinner, quieter, more flexible, and longer-lasting than PVC. TPU is also free of phthalates and BPA, and is widely used in medical and baby products. Avoid any product that does not specify its waterproof material.
4. Care. Machine washable on a normal cycle at 40 °C is ideal. Anything that requires hand-washing or dry cleaning is not realistic for regular use.
5. Australian shipping and warranty. Buying from an Australian retailer means faster delivery, GST already included, and full Australian Consumer Law backing if anything goes wrong. International sellers can take 3–6 weeks and offer no recourse if the product fails.
At Banana Passion, we offer two types to cover these choices: the Velvety waterproof blanket for the utmost soft-against-skin comfort, GripMe for textured anti-slip and fast wash-and-reuse turnaround. Size vary from M (100x70cm), up to XXL (200×200 cm), with free Australian shipping on orders over AU$150.
A simple three-layer system handles almost every scenario:
After sex, you only need to remove and wash the top blanket. The sheets stay clean, the mattress stays dry, and you are not stripping the bed late at night.
The full step-by-step method is in our guide on how to wash a waterproof blanket, but the short version:
A well-made waterproof blanket maintains full waterproofing through 100+ wash cycles when cared for this way, meaning a quality blanket bought once at AU$80–120 typically outlasts five or six years of regular use.
If buying a product specifically for sex feels awkward, just remember that you’re not alone! Grand View Research’s Australia Sex Toys Market Size & Outlook report notes that cultural liberalism is driving high demand for sex toys in Australia, and that a significant share of adults own multiple products. However, a generation of advertising silence has left a lot of people whispering about products that are, in practice, just bedroom hygiene.
A waterproof blanket is no more embarrassing than a kitchen apron. It is protective equipment for an activity you do regularly. Buying one once means you stop thinking about the mess and start thinking about the sex.
A well-designed blanket should feel like a soft throw, not a tarp. Look for microfibre or velvety top fabrics, and avoid anything with a PVC layer that can be felt through the surface. Most people forget the blanket is there within a few minutes.
For a queen bed (153 × 203 cm), an XL blanket (around 200 × 140 cm) covers the central usage area. For a king bed (183 × 203 cm) or anyone who moves around, an XXL (around 200 × 200 cm) gives full edge-to-edge coverage.
Yes. Waterproof blankets are equally useful for postpartum recovery, period nights, pet beds (especially older dogs), picnics, car seats, beach trips, and travel. Many customers buy one for intimacy and end up using it across the whole household.
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is widely used in medical, baby, and food-contact products. It is free of phthalates, BPA, and PVC. Look for OEKO-TEX certified fabrics, which confirm the material has been tested against a list of more than 1,000 harmful substances.
A picnic blanket is waterproof from the ground up, designed to stop damp grass and soil coming through from below. A sex-specific waterproof blanket is waterproof from above and designed to prevent fluids from reaching the mattress from the top. The construction is in the opposite direction, even though both contain a waterproof layer.
Mattress protection during sex is solved by one of two setups: a permanent everyday mattress protector under the sheet, plus a purpose-built waterproof blanket on top for active intimacy. Towels and disposable pads work in a pinch but don’t hold up to regular use, and they don’t feel like part of your bedroom.
A quality waterproof blanket from an Australian retailer typically costs AU$50–150, lasts five or more years with proper care, and replaces the awkward laundry routine that comes with every other option.
Browse the full waterproof blanket range — all four sizes, three top-fabric options, free Australian shipping on orders over AU$150.
Banana Passion is an Australian sexual wellness brand based in Wareemba, Sydney. We’ve been shipping waterproof blankets, massage oils, sensual balms, and novelty candles to Australian households since 2021. Got a question this guide didn’t answer? Email us at info@bananapassion.com.au, let us know.
