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Mattress Disposal: Complicated Process Made Easy

Mattress disposal is a process we all go through, sooner or later. The average person doesn’t really think about it until the time comes - this is the main reason for all the confusion that is present when you realize it’s time to change your bed and get a new one.

It doesn’t have to be that way, however! In this guide, I’ll tell you all about mattress disposal and mattress recycling. You’ll learn the wheres, the whys and the hows.

We’ll start off by talking about the main signs to look for when trying to decide whether or not your old mattress should be disposed of. Then, I’ll tell you how to get rid of mattress - there are a few ways you can do this, and the choice is yours (if you got the reference, I love you).

Finally, since you’re getting rid of your old bed, I’ll give you some suggestions of mattress providers that you could start looking at.

How to Know That the Mattress Disposal Time Has Come?

First things first - let’s figure out whether you really need to get rid of your old bed, and then we can move on to talking about how to dispose of a mattress.

Take a good look at your old mattress - there are a few telltale signs that should be a dead giveaway. First of all, the exterior - and I don’t mean stains or other insignificant marks. These can always be washed off - some harder than others, but the sentiment is still the same.

No, what I mean are cuts, rips, holes, and so on. If your mattress is literally “leaking foam”, or you can’t lay on it without getting stabbed by a loose spring, then I think it’s pretty evident that you do need a new bed.

Mattress disposal: a pile of old mattresses.

When it comes to deciding on mattress disposal, however, things can be much more subtle than that.

Oftentimes, if you had taken care of your bed all throughout the years, it will have no exterior signs of age. These are the situations where you actually have to lie down on the bed to figure out the above-mentioned conundrum.

If your mattress is squeaky (some noise is normal, but if you can’t even take a breath of air without the bed reacting to it, that’s a pretty clear sign), has weak edges and you sink as soon as you lay down on it, well… Those are some pretty good indicators that it’s likely about time to think about mattress disposal.

Now, in general, after giving it a few good looks, you should be pretty sure on whether or not your bed is worth keeping or discarding. For the sake of the argument, let’s say you’ve decided to discard it… What to do with old mattress?

A Possible Easy Way Out

Before you start looking for the closest garbage container or begin tearing your bed apart, take a look at your warranty (i.e. Nectar).

Chances are that you might go through the process of mattress disposal rather quickly.

Depending on the company from which you’ve bought your old mattress, there is a possibility that your warranty might still be valid. If it is, then you’re in luck - a whole lot of possibilities open up.

Mattress disposal: a mattress by a bin.

Some warranties give you a discount on a new bed, others give you a new bed for free (although that’s quite rare). However, most companies won’t leave you hanging on the question of “what to do with old mattress” - they might come, collect and dispose of it for you.

Somewhat of the same concept applies when you want to hire a mattress disposal company. OK, fair enough, there probably aren’t any “mattress disposal companies”, but there are some garbage-collecting firms that are willing to come and pick your mattress up, for a price.

Donations

Right, so - let’s say that you’ve checked your warranty, and it’s expired. What now?

Before you start googling “mattress recycling” or “how to get rid of mattress”, there is one more option left for you - donations.

Yup, you’ve read that right - you can donate your mattress.

Depending on where you live, a place to donate your old bed could either be easier or more difficult to find. It shouldn’t get TOO difficult, though - there are quite a few organizations that are willing to accept used beds from people.

That being said, there are a few criteria that your bed is likely going to have to face.

Mattress disposal: a pile of mattresses by a fence.

First of all, a pretty easily-understandable one - cleanliness. While no one expects that you’ll be bringing a mattress that’s 10 years old and still looks like it’s brand new, there are certain hygiene aspects that should be met. If you can’t even see the original color of your bed, mattress disposal might be the better option.

Also, make sure that, if you want to donate your old mattress, it’s hazard-free. This simply means that it shouldn’t have any metal spring or coils sticking out, there are no other sharp things pointing out of the mattress, and that it still resembles a mattress, overall.

If your old bed meets these criteria, and is generally still of mediocre shape, then you can go ahead and give a call to Goodwill or any other institution that would take the bed and give it to someone who’s truly in need. Not only would you get rid of the bed (likely maybe even for free?), but you’re also going to be doing someone a huge favor.

Recycling

Assuming that donating your old mattress isn’t an options, and your warranty is lost forevermore, the next best step would probably have to be mattress recycling.

A cool thing here is that there are a couple of ways you can go about it. One of them is faster and easier, but is going to cost you a little bit of money, while the other one is a bit more time-consuming, and requires you to get your hands dirty, but is relatively free.

The first and easier way to find out how to dispose of a mattress by recycling it is to find a recycling company and provide them with the mattress. Depending on whether you are going to take the mattress there yourself, or you want the company to come to you, the price will vary.

Mattress disposal: a pile of furniture.

Regarding the price, though, you shouldn’t worry too much - it’s not going to cost an arm and a leg. All things included, you shouldn’t pay more than $50 USD for the entire service.

Now, if you’re really short on money, or simply don’t want to spend it on recycling services, there is another option regarding this method of mattress disposal.

You know those recycling containers that are usually placed in residential areas or near shopping markets? Well, what you’d have to do is cut your mattress apart, organize the different parts in separate piles and then simply take all those parts to the designated containers.

Sounds complicated? Well, to tell you the truth, it really isn’t.

Sure, it might be a little more time consuming than simply handing the bed over to a recycling company, but if you have some spare time on your hands, and want some “destruction meditation”, this is definitely a viable option.

Reusing the Materials

Yup, that’s definitely an option. Hear me out!

While your mattress might have tears and stains on the outside, there are certain areas in which it can still definitely be used.

Examples, you say? Sure, here’s one - stuffing.

Let’s say that you’re into arts and crafts, and like to make stuffed animal toys in your free time (or anything else that requires stuffing, really). The foam from a mattress can serve as great filling for your creations!

Mattress disposal: sofa on the sidewalk.

The same can be said about punching bags. If you have one, and it seems to lack weight, you could always unzip it and stuff it full with mattress foam, surface cloth and any other materials that you’d see fit.

Even if you’re into dealing with machinery and automobile repairs, the surface from an old mattress can come in handy as a cloth to clean your hands, or use it in any other way related to car work.

I’ll admit, these are some rather specific mattress disposal tips. That being said, if you’re looking what to do with old mattress, you are surely going to find a way to reuse it, if only you want to.

Need a New Mattress? Here are Some Suggestions

So, you’ve learned how to get rid of mattress and now the deed is almost done - you’re about to become mattressless (I’ll admit, that sounded better in my head). The next logical step would be to go out and buy a new bed, right? Well, let me tell you this - if you play your cards right, and choose the best mattress providers out there, you might not even need to get rid of your mattress yourself.

That’s right - there are mattress providers out there who are not only willing to bring your new product to your door, but also take your old bed with them! While that’s not exactly common practice, it is a service that some providers do have.

Mattress disposal: a pile of white mattresses.

As far as the best mattresses are concerned, there’s a pretty good selection you choose from. Here are just a few examples.

Saatva

Saatva is an innerspring mattress. Old-schooled, responsive and cool - all these words are perfect to describe this bed.

Saatva is going to be amazing for anyone who likes to sleep on a firmer surface. It offers perfect temperature neutrality features, and is bouncy - great for both sleeping and making love!

Saatva’s prices are:

A very reasonably-priced bed!

Latest Saatva Coupon Found:

Puffy

While Puffy lacks a lot of that responsiveness that’s so obvious with Saatva, it makes up in other departments, namely motion and sound isolation.

Puffy is a foam mattress. It’s great for sleeping with your significant other, especially if they tend to twist and turn in their sleep.

Puffy’s prices:

Same as Saatva, Puffy is super-reasonably priced, especially when you take into account the quality of the bed that you’ll receive.

Compare Mattresses Side by Side With Others

Did you know?

Have you ever wondered which mattresses are approved as the best for sleep?

See & compare TOP mattresses side by side

Nectar

Nectar is often labeled as one of the best mattresses ever created. Whether that’s factually correct or not isn’t really for me to comment on this “mattress disposal” tutorial - what I can say, however, is that it’s really good.

Nectar comes packed with 6 layers of different materials that are there to guarantee you’ll have a good night’s sleep. It sleeps cool, has good motion isolation and sturdy edges.

The price tags of the Nectar mattress are:

As you can probably see for yourself, all three of the mattresses that we’ve talked about in this article are very reasonably priced, especially given their quality and reputation.

All of that said, there are definitely more great mattresses you could take a look at - whether it be memory foam or springs, latex or hybrids, you’re bound to find a bed that would serve you well in the years to come. If you’re interested and want more information, visit our list of the best mattresses to find out more!

Conclusions

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of how to dispose of a mattress.

While it’s true that mattress disposal can become a tedious process really fast, it all depends on how well you’re familiar with the subject. And, honestly, if you read the whole article from top to bottom, you now have more than enough knowledge on the different methods of getting rid of your old bed.

I sincerely hope that this tutorial was helpful to you. Remember - whether you choose to recycle your bed or donate it, there are great new beds just waiting to get snatched. Don’t miss out on the opportunity and, after reading this mattress disposal tutorial, get yourself a bed that would last much longer than your old one!

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Recent User Reviews

Yaay

It's time to buy a new mattress yaay

Not a good option for me

Rusing materials can be useful, but stuffing could be really dirty itself. Maybe not a good option

The problem

The main problem is that not all recycling companies have the necessary equipment for this. No luck, at least in my city!

Thankyou

Okay, thank you for you suggestions. Some of the options are really cool

Warranty

i wish I knew about warranty a little more earlier. Prob now it is pointless already

Saatva mattress

Saatva brand is really cool... but price...

Good guide

Recycling is a little bit expensive for me however I like two other variants

Nice

Nice and short

Like+

simple and straightforward unlike other sources, give you a like

My choice hah

Destruction meditation is my choice

Not good

Actually not so many people dispose of it properly. Every time I see such mattresses they are just lying on the floor. These people...

Hello

My wife bought her mattress around 7 years ago. Imo I think it is time to change it (it doesn't look bad but still), but she does not want to because she get used to it. I hope this article will help her to decide on this.

For the record

Just for the record, I paid more than $50~

Donation is a good option.

Probably I can donate my mattress, though I don't know any place where I can do that.

time has come

I guess I need a new mattress xD

TT

My old friend... feels sad man

Thnks!

Finally some good article, thanks!

Title

I just put it in a pantry, works for me, though I have some doubts.

Recycling and reusing

Good idea - recycling and reusing

Keep in mind

Not all warranties provide you with free disposal and I've never seen warranty to receive a new bed. If there is some defect with mattress that you recently bought, then yea,

FAQ

How to know when it's time to dispose of a mattress?

If your bed has become squeaky, has rough edges and the stains have eaten through the actual covers inside of the mattress, it's probably time to change your bed. Always look for mattress providers that bring you your new bed and take away the old one - you'll be able to save both time and money this way.

Where should I donate my mattress?

Donating your old bed is always an option - a simple Google search will help you find the nearest shelters that will happily take your old bed in. However, before you do so, try to make sure that it's at least somewhat clean.

What is a memory foam mattress?

Memory foam mattresses are created mostly from polyurethane and have additional chemicals added that increase its viscosity and density. It’s also often called “viscoelastic polyurethane foam”. In order to create the air movement and let your body “breath” while you sleep, it has open foam bubbles. Memory foam mattresses are created in a way to adapt to your body curves and to also recover their original shape after you get up. Therefore, this kind of top mattresses offer you the feeling as if is created specifically for you.

Do top rated mattresses offer a money-back guarantee? Is there a catch?

All of the top mattress brands offer a money-back guarantee. The free trial usually starts from 90 to 100 nights, and if you don’t like the mattress, you can simply give it back. The majority of best mattress providers will not only give your money back but will also come to get it for free. If the mattress provider is reputable, there won’t be any catch - everyone understands that you have to try the mattress before knowing if it fits you.

What is off-gassing? Is it poisonous?

Off-gassing refers to the odor which comes from a new mattress. It’s the process that happens when volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) leak out of the mattress foam into the air. Those chemicals include both human-made and natural components, including formaldehyde, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), benzene, trichloroethane, and perfluorocarbons. Top rated mattresses will have zero or very minimal off-gassing. Many of them are sent to the customer already after the off-gassing. Is it dangerous, though? Even though the smell can be unpleasant, there’s usually only a very small amount of chemicals that can do no harm to your health.

How long do top rated mattresses serve?

The durability of a mattress depends on the provider and the quality of the materials used. Usually, you get a 10-year warranty, which will be valid in case of any defects. Normally, mattresses will serve you from 7 to 10 years, or even longer. Thus, when you buy the best mattress, you should take it as a long-term investment.