by A mattress is an important part of your daily life. It is the most used material in our daily life. There comes a time when you need to exchange your old mattress for a new one. You may want to buy a mattress based on your personal or medical needs. You may research and find the best mattress with unlimited features and a suitable price.
This guide can find appropriate ways on “How to get rid of your old mattress.”
How do you know if you need a new mattress?
Here are some of the clear signs that your mattress is not serving its true purpose and needs to be changed:
Sagging
The components of the mattress, when shifted from their place, cause sagging or lumping on the surface. It then fails to give ample support to your back, spine, and hips (check 10 amazing mattresses for back pain).
Hammocking
You can easily feel it when your partner is moving around the bed. This also tells that the quality of the mattress is deteriorating (check 10 top-quality mattresses for couples).
Coils
You need to change your mattress if you can feel the coils when you lie or sit. These coils keep you uncomfortable, jeopardizing your peaceful night’s sleep.
Noisy Springs
When you sit or lie on your mattress, you can hear the signs of the spring. It means they are not providing proper support to your back.
All these factors indicate buying a new mattress. You might suffer back pain, stiff joints, and body aches if you ignore these signs (also check 10 good mattresses for shoulder pain).
Easy Methods to get rid of old Mattresses
Consider Donation
If you consider donating your mattress, it is a very good initiative (also check our mattress foundation disposal & donation tips). Not only are you doing a good thing for society, but also making space for a new mattress. However, while donating is generous, you should only give away a mattress that is not in poor condition. Donating a worn-out mattress is against the basic ethics of living in a society.
Don’t donate a mattress if it has the following features:
- It is infested by bed bugs or other types of pests.
- It is ripped or has holes and is beyond any repairs.
- Does not evenly support the weight of the body.
- It has stains or a strong stench.
Make sure you properly clean your mattress before donating it. If there are minor issues or small stains on your mattress, you can easily resolve them at home. Remove any stains by sponging and vacuuming (check the top-rated steam cleaners for mattress). Leave it in sunlight for some days to remove any bad odor.
Sell It
You can resell your mattress if you don’t want to donate it. If your mattress is in decent condition, you can easily sell it online. You can post ads on social media groups or any online selling app. Just post a picture with your price quote. If you are lucky, you might make money from your old mattress.
Recycle It
If none of the options above suits you, you can easily recycle your mattress. An estimate of 20 million mattresses is disposed of each year. They cover about 40 cubic feet of space, contributing to the landmass.
This all creates serious ecological as well as environmental issues. A mattress should be broken down and recycled properly to prevent all this.
Recycling a mattress can be done in two ways.
Local Recycling Centers
Due to mass landfill issues, every city, state, or county is taking the initiative to open recycling centers. The recycling laws, protocols, and standards may vary in every county, city, or state. They take in your old and worn-out mattresses and reprocess them.
Some recycling centers offer free services, while some charge a small fee to collect and recycle them.
If you don’t find a local center to get rid of your mattress, you can find local residential facilities. These include hostels, universities, and hospitals. They have people often visiting them for overnight stays. If your mattress is in good shape, they will take it off your hands.
DIY Recycling
If you fail to find an appropriate way to get rid of your old mattress, you can always do it yourself. You can easily break down your mattress into smaller pieces. You need the right tools to open up a mattress. Moreover, you can use these pieces in different parts of your home or garden. You can even get creative and create many decorative pieces.
Follow these simple steps to break down your mattress at home.
- Carry the mattress to a bigger place as the whole process is messy.
- Find the piping cord at the edge of the mattress and remove it.
- You can now easily remove the top and bottom layers of the mattress.
- Remove the padding and filling inside and fill in a big trash bag.
- Using a cutter, remove the springs or coil and put it in a container.
- After emptying all the contents from the inside, break the outer frame of the mattress with a saw or a hammer.
Throwing Out Your Mattress
If you cannot utilize any of the options above, you can always throw away your mattress. However, remember that you cannot throw away a heavy mattress with your regular garbage. There are proper rules regarding throwing away heavy trash. You should first read the rules and regulations to avoid getting fined.
If it’s okay to throw away a mattress in your neighborhood, do it properly. Cover the mattress in a plastic bag and tape it up properly.
Disposal Service
If you can’t dispose of your regular mattress in the trash, you can call the disposal services. They especially take unwanted stuff from your house and charge a small fee. You can contact them easily and ask about their mattress hauling services.
Mattress Hauling from The New Company
Some companies offer to take the old mattress off your hands. They even discount if your mattress is still in pretty good shape.
Conclusion
If you plan on buying a new mattress (check 10 top-quality mattresses under $1,000), you should adequately get rid of your old mattress. The best thing you can do with your old mattress is to donate it. Make sure you only donate the mattress if it’s in good condition.
Some other options available are to recycle it or dispose of it through proper means. Burning or directly throwing away the mattress in the open will harm the environment and cause pollution.
Old mattress disposal FAQs
How Do You Get Rid of a Mattress for Free?
Suppose you want to dispose of your mattress for free. Consider donating it. Local charities are always looking out for old mattresses that are in good condition. You can easily contact a charity or a homeless shelter and donate it to them. You can break it into smaller pieces if the mattress is not in good condition. All recycling centers accept the broken-down pieces of a mattress.
What Is the Best Thing to Do with An Old Mattress?
The best thing to do with an old mattress depends on its present condition. If it is still good enough to sleep in, you can donate it to someone needy. If it is extremely old or worn out, you can always recycle it through a proper channel.
Can You Burn a Mattress?
It is not recommended to burn down your old mattress. Mattresses are made of foam, plastic, and springs. Burning a mattress releases toxic fumes that are dangerous to the environment and people around it. There are smarter and safer ways to get rid of your old mattresses. By burning a mattress, you can put someone's life in jeopardy.
What's The Best Place to Donate a Mattress?
The best place to donate a mattress is the homeless shelter or non-profit charity. This allows your old bed to become a new bed for needy people. Instead of wasting away your mattress in a landfill, you can donate to the people who deserve it.