We bought a mattress protecter from Target. My waters broke in bed. I woke up at 7am feeling a little wet down there, bolted to the bathroom, just made it & gush gush gush hehe. Keep some maternity pads in your handbag in case it happens while you're out. Mine started gushing & didn't stop for hrs. I had 10hrs before CX started though so still had time to go shopping & get a few things I wanted for hospy. I also kept a towel on my car seat just in case. Better to be safe than have to buy a new mattress etc. Stock up on the pads though, if they do break you may need quite alot of them like I did, if you don't you'll use them after birth anyway.
Mine was clear and like water, alkaline smell etc.
Good luck