How to Get Rid of Your Old Mattress
Congratulations, you just bought a new mattress, and now you are probably wondering how to get rid of your old mattress. You will no longer be tossing, turning, and having body aches from that old mattress. Buying a new mattress and getting better sleep is a beautiful thing, but how should you get rid of your old mattress?
As you’re reading this, your old mattress is probably sadly sitting by the wayside taking up space like that box of your ex’s stuff. You have the option to recycle your mattress or redeploy it to a new home or create a new purpose.
Lucky for you, our guide offers solutions on how to dispose of your old mattress based on its current condition—whether it's like new, gently used or has been worn down and needs to be recycled.
What to Do If Your Mattress is Like New or Gently Used
Whether you extended the life of your mattress with a mattress protector or just happened to avoid stains, your old mattress can be donated or sold if it still has some solid nights of sleep left in it.
How to Return the Mattress to the Manufacturer
Many manufacturers will take the mattress back and recycle it themselves. This is a possibility that can save a lot of time and hassle, so call the manufacturer and see if that is an option!
How To Donate An Old Mattress
To donate your old mattress, you can find a list of who accepts used mattresses through a list of mattress donation centers and help make someone’s day a little brighter. If you're unable to find a mattress donation center near you, consider contacting your local Salvation Army, Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity.
Also, check with your local churches, homeless shelters, and domestic violence prevention centers to see if they need any donations. You can check your local shelter needs through Donation Town.
Keep in mind that some donation centers charge a fee, which most fees vary depending on the organization. To get all the details, organize a pick-up or coordinate a drop-off, call the facility.
How to Sell Your Old Mattress
If you're on a budget, you may opt to sell your used mattress if it's still in good condition. Several online communities may take you up on your offer. Consider websites like Craigslist, Facebook, Freecycle, and NextDoor or apps like Carousel or OfferUp that connect you with people in and around your neighborhood who may want to buy your gently used mattress.
To sell your used mattress, try to keep somethings in mind. Make sure that the proper manufacturing tags are on it, that it is not overly dirty (such as infested with bed bugs—yuck!), and to follow your state’s sanitation laws when trying to sell your mattress.
You can check with Wayfair’s Furniture Disposal Guide to check with your state’s regulations for furniture removal in your city!
How to Recycle Your Old Mattress
If your mattress has been around for over eight years, chances are it’s time to recycle your old mattress. Flipping or rotating the mattress will help extend its lifespan, but if you frequently flip the bed and you are still uncomfortable, it is probably time to be recycled.
Use Your Mattress for a DIY Project
Chances are, you probably have DIY projects that you've pinned on Pinterest and want to tackle in your free time, so why not tackle one that’ll transform your old mattress into a masterpiece? Here are a few ideas that we’d love to see in action!
From creating light fixtures to wine bottle holders, candle holders, jewelry organizers, and even room dividers, there are many ways to repurpose parts of your old mattress. In fact, contact us if you take on any of these bad boys. We’ll give you major props on social media.
How to Recycle Your Old Mattress
You’re probably wondering, where can I recycle my old mattress? Recycling may not be as easy as placing your bed on the curb and waiting for the sanitation worker to pick it up, but it’s the right thing to do. To find out if there is a mattress recycling service in your area, contact an organization like Bye-Bye Mattress, Earth 911 or Second Chance Recycling. If these organizations service your zip code, you can organize a drop-off or pick up time that works for your schedule.
Second Chance Recycling, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will recycle your mattress for a small $20 fee. When breaking down your used mattress, the organization works to salvage every part of the mattress. In fact, they've recycled enough materials to create the equivalent of planting over 350 trees and taking 40 cars off the road. If you live in the Minneapolis area, enter your zip code on their website, and you can quickly schedule a pickup.
Break Down Your Used Mattress at Home
If you’re feeling ambitious or need to let off a little steam, you may opt to break down your old mattress at home. After all, up to 90% of innerspring mattresses can be reused, including the steel springs, foam materials, and wood parts. You can use these materials in DIY projects, recycle them or sell them for scrap.
Call in the Professionals to Remove Your Old Mattress
If you’ve exhausted all the other options and you need to get rid of your old mattress asap, you can call a mattress disposal company like 1-800-Got-Junk or Junk King. For a fee (estimate provided on site), they’ll pick up your mattress and do their best to give it to charity or recycle it.