Mattresses play a significant role in ensuring that you get a good night’s sleep. Whether you sleep on a memory foam mattress, innerspring mattress, or any other mattress type, you may need to replace it after a few years, especially if it no longer gives you the comfort you need. When you get tired of sleeping on an old mattress and decide to buy a new one to increase your sleep quality, you have to decide what to do with the old mattress.
Most mattress retailers will offer to dispose of your old mattress when they deliver the new one, but the problem is that more often than not, the mattress will end up in a landfill with several other mattresses. You will also come across private companies that offer to dispose of your old mattress at a fee.
There are more creative ways of disposing of your mattresses and box springs without harming the environment. Note that over 20 million Americans dispose of mattresses every year, and most of them end up in landfills.
If you are at a loss on what to do with your old mattress, read on. We have a few ideas that you can consider instead of crippling the environment with waste.
Donate to charity
If you buy a new mattress, you should consider donating your old mattress to charity. Charities like the Salvation Army accept old mattresses as a donation. Note that for charities to accept an old mattress as a donation, it must be stain-free.
Not all charities accept old mattresses as donations regardless of the condition they are in. Therefore, you should call your local donation center to get information on charities you can donate to.
Rules on mattress donation differ in different states. If you get a charity that accepts mattresses as donations, be sure to ask whether they will pick it from your home, or you would have to move it over yourself.
You can also donate old mattresses to churches or shelters. Most churches accept mattresses for mission programs that help families in need. Shelters, including women’s shelters, disaster relief shelters, and homeless shelters can also benefit from old mattress donations. Just ensure that the mattress is in good condition before donating it. If you used a mattress protector, chances are the bed will show less signs of wear and tear.
Give it away
You would be surprised at how many people are willing to accept a free second-hand mattress. Ask your extended family, friends, or even co-workers that may be in need of an extra mattress. Alternatively, you could post the mattress on the notice board at your condo or apartment complex and have whoever is interested pick it from your house. You could also consider posting the mattress on websites where people give away free stuff.
It would be best if you considered having the mattress cleaned professionally before giving it away. Mattresses accumulate a lot of dirt, dust, and sweat over the years, even when kept in top-tier conditions.
Donate to a pet rescue center
Most pet rescue centers or animal shelters accept old mattress donations. They use the mattresses as beds for animals they have rescued. You can call local animal shelters to find out whether they need mattresses for animals awaiting adoption. Some animal shelters may require you to professionally clean the mattress before donation.
Sell it
You can sell your old mattress to make a little extra cash. However, note that you would have to engage the services of a cleaning company to clean your old mattress professionally. This may cost you anything between $60 and $120.
Once the mattress is cleaned, you can post it on sites where people sell second-hand items. Be sure to take clear pictures of the mattress so that your potential customers have a clear idea of what they are buying. You can also indicate that you professionally cleaned the mattress to attract more buyers.
Alternatively, you can take the mattress to a second-hand shop close to where you live. As long as the mattress is in good condition, the shop can purchase it at a reasonable fee. To save yourself the hustle of taking a mattress to a shop only to have it rejected, call beforehand so that you know what their conditions.
Repurpose it
Most kids love bouncing on beds and mattresses. If you have an old mattress lying around, you can repurpose it and let them use it during their playtime. Just place the mattress in your backyard and let them use it as they please. The mattress could also act as a cushion during playtime and prevent minor injuries.
It would be best if you had the mattress cleaned professionally before letting your kids play on it. Old mattresses tend to accumulate dust mites and body sweat, both of which are health hazards. Having the mattress professionally cleaned will only cost you a few dollars.
Recycle
Your mattress can be recycled because it is made of recyclable materials. Unfortunately, most recycling programs do not accept old mattresses. Only those that deal with mattresses accept to recycle them. Suppose you’re looking to recycle your mattress, research recycling centers that accept old mattresses. This way, you can ensure that your mattress is recycled and does not end up in a landfill.
You may have to pay a small fee to have the mattress delivered to a recycling center near you since most of them don’t offer removal services.
Compost it
You can use your old mattress to create a composting system in your backyard. The best thing about this is that you can use both the mattress stuffing and wood frame. Repurpose the wooden frames to create the compost bin and use the cotton stuffing as a cover. The cotton stuffing, or foam padding will keep the compost pile warm, which will, in turn, quicken the composting process. The box spring can also provide support for vines that will grow from the compost.
Conclusion
There are several uses for old mattresses, so you should not toss old mattresses into landfills every time you buy a new one. Consider the more environment-friendly and humanitarian things you can do with your old mattress, as discussed above.
