Love love this thing. It's saved my life (and my mattress) multiple times already.  My cat is not handling the presence of my new roommate's dog too well, so when I purchased a new mattress, I got this as well to keep it protected from her usual acting out (i.e. peeing on things).  It is actually completely waterproof, it protected my mattress from her not once but twice. Washes and dries great. Doesn't sound plastic-y beneath the sheets. Would give more stars if I could!