What Should You Do With An Old Mattress?

So we all know how exciting it is to get a brand new luxury mattress! We’ve had enough of that old mattress that has had its day!  But what should you do with an old mattress? 

An old mattress can cause busy Californians a raft of problems. Will it get left to get rained on in your yard? Maybe it will just sit in your bedroom for weeks on end? Where do you store it and how and who will remove it? 

In our helpful article, we will uncover all the important facts as to what you should do with an old mattress. 

Let’s first start with the quick answer, so you can get started removing the old mattress right out of your life! 

If mattresses are clean and in good condition, they can be taken back by your new mattress retailer. You can gift it or sell it. If a mattress is in poor condition, repurpose it in a craft project. Reliable recycling professionals will remove box springs and mattresses with a pick-up service option. 

Ok, so that’s the brief nailed. Let’s start by finding out exactly what’s inside a mattress so we can more easily understand what to do with an old mattress.

What’s inside a mattress?

Most mattresses are composed of three layers. 

Support layer 

The first is the layer that supports you while you sleep. This is the ‘business end’ which usually comprises the springs. Although not all mattresses contain springs, most of them do. 

Some mattresses just contain reflex foam which is in place of springs. 

These mattresses tend to be a little lighter so not as difficult to dispose of as traditional spring types. 

Springs are the metal coils within your mattress, which provide support for your body as you sleep.

Comfort layer 

The next layer is where comfort is added, so you get a relaxing night's sleep. This gives you that cushioned surface that mattresses have. 

This layer can be made up of all kinds of materials. They might contain natural followings such as wool, cotton, other white fibres and even silk! 

They could also contain: 

●      Memory foam

●      Latex

●      Gel-infused foam

Cover 

This is exactly what it says! It’s the cover that is your first point of contact when lying on your mattress. 

So as we can see many components make up a mattress which means it should be disposed of carefully. 

So can we simply throw it out with the trash? 

Let’s find out. 

Can I dispose of my mattress with the trash? 

Some people do try to cut up the mattress ( which believe us, is much harder than it sounds.

When we look at how mattresses are made as mentioned previously, hacking through springs and other thick materials could be not only extremely difficult but could result in an accident. 

Can I skip my old mattress? 

Adding your mattress to a skip can also add to increasing landfill problems in California.

Recent figures from statista.com show that a whopping 40 million tons of solid waste ( including mattresses) was discarded into Californian landfills. 

Burning the individual components damage the environment and creates a fire hazard. 

So what can you do with your old mattress if it’s in good clean condition? 

Read on to find out. 

Sell it 

The first and most obvious way to safely dispose of an old mattress in the Californian area and indeed anywhere across the globe is to sell it. 

This, of course, only works if it’s fairly new and hasn’t become worn in any way.

The likelihood of anyone buying an old stained mattress with springs poking through the cover is zero! 

Firstly make sure you have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected it. 

Post some pictures on your local Facebook Marketplace or classifieds to find someone to collect locally. 

“The likelihood of anyone buying an old stained mattress with springs poking through the cover is zero!” 

Gift it 

Donating to a charity or others in need is a good use of an old mattress. 

However, In the same way, as when you are selling one, it mustn’t have any serious wear and tear issues such as: 

●      Rips 

●      Tears 

●      Stains 

●      Mold 

●      Holes

●      Bed bugs 

It might surprise you to learn that many thrift shops won’t take old mattresses. 

For those in the Californian area wondering what you should do with an old mattress, it’s surprising to learn many thrift shops won’t take them. 

This is mainly because before they can be sold on, they have to be fully sanitized using resources thrift shops struggle to obtain. 

However, if your mattress is in good shape, then it’s worth giving your local thrift store a call to find out. 

“It might surprise you to learn that many thrift shops won’t take old mattresses.”

New mattress company may  take it away 

If you've had a new mattress delivered, the law requires that retailers offer the opportunity of removing the old mattress for their customers.

It’s worth noting that if there is a lot of wear or tear and damage then they are not obliged to offer that service.

This is because your old mattress could be seen as a health and safety risk. 

This should be at no extra cost. However, with many purchasing new mattresses online these days, currently, this doesn’t apply to distance sellers.

However, this law is set to change. As of January 1, 2021, a new California law will enforce online mattress retailers delivering a mattress within California to offer pick-up of used mattresses within 30 days. 

So we can understand a little more easily what you should do with an old mattress. Let's explore how a mattress is made so you can see that it's important to dispose of it carefully. 

So if your mattress has seen better days? What can you do with it then? 

Get crafty! 

If your mattress has some serious wear issues, why not use it in your next craft project! 

●      Garden trellis: Used springs make a great trellis for growing sweet peas or climbing veg.

●      DIY/craft organizer: Old box springs make a great backboard for your craft or DIY room. Just a can of spray paint you can transform them into a neat little organization station. Simply hang cups and buckets to hold all your craft or Small DIY supplies 

●      Garden compost: Use a wood frame and any natural stuffings to create a compost corner in your yard 

●      Birds nests: Repurposed bed springs make the cutest little bird nests! Fill with nesting material from a pet store and hang from a tree 

So if you don’t have the time to start a craft project and are still wondering what you should do with an old mattress, read on! 

Recycle it 

By recycling your old mattress you are helping to reduce waste. 

Californian recycling organizations such as The Mattress Recycling Council help to improve the recycling of old mattresses by developing important markets for mattress parts.

Since their inception, they have saved over 8.5 million cubic meters of landfill space. 

Recycling your old mattress is one way of doing your bit to help the environment. 

Whether an individual or a big organization such as universities or hotel chains, reliable and professional partners of the mattress recycling council can take away mattresses in areas of California, as part of an ongoing scheme. 

And finally… 

So that’s everything you need to know about what to do with an old mattress! 

For a professional reliable mattress recycling service in the Bay Area of California, check out our website for more details. 

For residential pick-ups, or business requirements get in touch with one of  our knowledgeable staff who can also help with larger customized projects.