Some Mattress Brands Will Pick Up
Having a new mattress delivered? In states like California, your retailer is required to take your old mattress back when they deliver a new one to you, as long as it’s in acceptable condition. Be sure to read the fine print when purchasing your mattress so you know what kind of delivery and old mattress removal arrangements you’re paying for.
Mattress recycling programs vary by city and state.
How To Sell A Mattress
- Sell your mattress locally: Before you consider this option, you should know that selling a mattress may be illegal in your state. Many states only allow you to sell a used mattress after youve cleaned it in a rigorous and specific way. Check with your state to find out its regulations. Because the department that handles bedding varies from state to state, you might have to contact your state departments of Health, Consumer Affairs, Agriculture or Licensing.You arent going to make enough money to justify shipping your used mattress across the country, so think local when you advertise. Anywhere that allows for an advertisement, such as a library, community center or locally-owned restaurant is a good place to start. When youre writing a sales ad, include details about the cleanliness of your mattress along with details about its history: Non-smoking house, no pets and a relatively recent purchase date are all major selling points.
- Sell your mattress online: Websites dedicated to consumer sales are the best place to start when youre trying to sell your mattress. You can also use your social network to advertise your mattress. Place an ad on all of your social networking sites, and encourage your friends to share your post.
Determine Whether You Can Donate Or Recycle Your Mattress
If your mattress is in good condition, it is recommended that you bring the mattress to specific recycling facilities or donate it to a charitable organization to prolong its use. Donating and recycling are some of the best solutions to how to dispose of old mattresses for free. Keeping your mattress in good condition can save you time and money in the future.
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Things To Do Before You Dispose Of Your Old Mattress
Before you throw your old mattress into the dumpster, you should also be aware of two key policies: your mattress’s warranty policy and your state’s mattress disposal policy. Both of these requirements can impact your next moves regarding if and how you dispose of your mattress.
Most mattresses come with a warranty that details the types of problems the manufacturer will repair for free. Warranties often allow consumers to receive a free repair or replacement for any manufacturing defects that impact their mattress’s effectiveness.
Similarly, each state has its own policies and procedures that dictate how citizens can dispose of their mattresses. For example, some states do not allow you to put your mattress out with the rest of your garbage but instead require you to take your mattress to a specific disposal facility.
Here is some more information about these two essential policies.
Whats Involved In Throwing Out A Mattress In Nyc
If your mattress is under 4 ft. x 3 ft. in size, you can simply bag it and put it out on the curb for collection. You dont need an appointment. However, if its larger than that, you need to schedule with the DSNY to have it picked up.
Next, you bag up the big unwieldy mattress, and the box springs too, if thats your plan, and lug them both down to the curb, only after 4pm on the evening prior to the scheduled pickup date.
You must also ensure that the mattress is not placed in a way that impedes sidewalk pedestrian traffic, or that allows it to stick out into the street, or that imposes on neighbors properties. Failing to comply with one of the requirements, whether its improperly bagging the mattress, or placing it on the curb wrong, can cause you to get multiple citations and fines from the city.
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Bed Bug Faq: Should You Throw Away Your Mattress
One of the many questions you may ask when you have a bed bug infestation is whether you should throw away your mattress or not.
In short, no, you should not throw away your mattress just because you are suffering from a bed bug infestation. In this article Ill explain why and what you need to do instead.
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Seal The Mattress Before Disposal
If you drag the mattress through the home, bed bugs will jump off it and infest the rest of the house. You can prevent this to an extent by sealing the mattress in an encasement.
When you get to the dump, you can take the mattress out of the encasement. Seal the encasement in an airtight box or bag before laundering it at home.
This should prevent at least some of the bugs from spreading.
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Give Your Mattress Or Box Spring To A Relative Or Friend
Give your mattress or box spring to a relative or friend. You can even make some money by selling it on Craigslist, at a garage sale, or through an online classified ad.
Donate it to charity. Your local thrift store may take your old mattress off your hands, but if they dont have a place for it in their store then theyll likely send it to someone who does need one and use the money from the sale to fund their charitable programs thats win-win!
Put it on the curb with a free sign on it. If you live in an area where people are allowed to put items out for pick up then this would be a good option for you because you wont have any extra costs associated with getting rid of your old mattress. However if someone takes advantage of this opportunity without taking care of it properly then there could potentially be health risks involved .
Sell it at a garage sale: This is another great way that doesnt cost anything except perhaps some time spent organizing everything which might just lead us back into our first point about giving away unwanted items but anyway! You could sell things like furniture items such as chairs and tables too so why not make some extra cash while doing so?
Will A Warranty Cover Any Of These Issues
In some situations, an issue with a mattress may be covered by the warranty. A warranty means that a company must agree to repair or replace its products in the case of defects or structural flaws.
Warranties vary between companies and even between different products made by the same brand. When you are considering a purchase, make sure to look at an items warranty to find out if any issues you have are covered in the mattress warranty.
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Signs You Need A New Mattress
After youve had your mattress for about seven years, you should begin inspecting it for wear and tear. If you start to notice any of the below signs, its probably time to get a new mattress.
There is no exact time to get rid of your mattress, however, if you start to notice any of the above signs impact your sleep, it may be time for a new one.
Free Mattress Recycling Programs
Some states have free mattress recycling programs available. For example, in California, Connecticut and Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council runs a mattress recycling program called , and statewide laws allow households to drop off old mattresses and box springs at collection sites free of charge .
You can also use ByeByeMattress or other search engines like Earth911 to locate a mattress recycling spot.This interactive mapreveals over 100 mattress recycling centers nationwide.
Some cities offer full-service recycling centers where you can drop off almost anything. If you have more than just a mattress to drop off, or the mattress is too large for you to bring in, you may be able to arrange for pickup from your home — some city and county governments will pick up bulky items curbside upon request, although these may or may not be part of a recycling program.
City recycling programs may charge a fee for dropping off mattresses or box springs. You may or may not need to make an appointment to drop off your mattress.
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How To Dispose Of A Mattress: Free And Paid Options
These are your options for getting rid of an old mattress, from recycling programs to trash pickup.
KJ Callihan
KJ Callihan is a freelance writer with a background in mental health and education. Her writing often covers product reviews and lists, animals and pet care, food and hospitality, health, wellness, and culture. When she isn’t crafting the perfect sentence, you may find her bingeing true crime documentaries, browsing mid-Michigan farmer’s markets, and tasting her son’s latest homemade cuisine
So it’s time to say goodbye to your worn out old mattress, but you aren’t sure how to dispose of it. While most of us would rather not add to the nearly 20 million mattresses that pile up in landfills every year, the alternatives may be trickier than they appear.
Recycling or donating mattresses seems like a simple enough endeavor, but the task can actually be quite challenging. Per the New York Times, some charities aren’t allowed to accept mattresses due to concerns over bed bugs or health department regulations, certain recycling programs have become less profitable and therefore less available, and many states don’t have recycling programs at all.
Plus, since foam fluctuates wildly in its profitability, some of the popular online mattress brands offering 100+ night trial periods don’t always stick to their promise of recycling or donating returned mattresses — a claim that potential customers may view as a good reason for purchasing.
Option : Resell It Or Give It Away
If your mattress is in good shape and recycling or donating arent options for you, try reselling it. You may not make a ton of money, but you never know someone in your network might need a used mattress and be interested in purchasing it from you. Take advantage of your social media channels by posting that you have a used mattress up for grabs. You can also utilize online marketplaces like OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, or Craigslist. Just post a picture of your mattress on one of these sites and offer up a price. When all else fails, you can list it as free on Craigslist.
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Other Ways To Dispose Of A Mattress
We wouldnt recommend these ways, as not only are some of these damaging to the environment, some are antisocial and illegal.
Although a couple of Which? members said they disposed of their last mattress by burning it, we dont advise it. Not only is a mattress fire hard to control, but the fumes released by the fire could also be damaging to both you and the environment.
If you happen to be renting a skip and dont mind your mattress contributing to a worsening landfill problem, then you can get rid of your old mattress using a skip.
But you should never dispose of your mattress by putting it in someone elses skip or, worse yet, simply abandoning it at the side of the road. As well as being antisocial and environmentally harmful, fly tipping is illegal and can result in a large fine.
Now that you know how to dispose of your old mattress, find out how to buy the best n to replace it with.
Breaking Down Your Mattress
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How To Dispose Of A Mattress
Austin Meadows, Sleep Product Tester
We regularly assess how the content in this article aligns with current scientific literature and expert recommendations in order to provide the most up-to-date research.
While trying to find the best mattress for you can be frustrating, every mattress owner inevitably reaches the point where its clear that its time to level up. Some people decide to switch out their mattress because theyre interested in a new model or mattress type, and some people seek out a new mattress because their comfort requirements have changed over time, because of factors like age, losing or gaining weight, and/or injuries. However, even someone who isnt particularly interested in other mattresses will need to replace their mattress eventually.
There are a number of different ways to get rid of a used mattress, from recycling to donation to throwing it away. The method thats right for you depends on a number of different factors, especially the state of the mattress, where you are located, and which facilities are close by offering which types of disposal and donation services.
Well break down the different methods of mattress disposal, how to choose the right one for you, and how to go about getting the disposal job done.
Should You Throw Your Mattress Away If You Have Bed Bugs
When youve got bed bugs, you will do anything to get rid of them. No doubt youve wondered what would happen if you threw your mattress and furniture away. But its actually a bad idea.
Theres no need to get rid of your old mattress. Its better to have an exterminator treat it with heat or pesticide. Then fit an encasement to stop bed bugs getting in and out. Disposal of infested mattresses without treatment will spread bed bugs around your house.
Even if you discard your bed, your new one will become infested anyway. You should consider using a bed bug treatment for mattresses instead. Well explain why throwing your mattress away is a bad idea, and how to kill bed bugs in mattresses.
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How To Figure Out When It’s Time For A New Mattress
Before you plan how to get rid of your mattress, you should consider whether you actually need to dispose of it.
Generally, people get rid of mattresses when they purchase a new one. Here are a few signs that it may be time to buy a new mattress:
- Sagging: If your mattress has begun sagging in the middle, it can no longer provide adequate support. Buying a new one can save you the back pain that may occur when sleeping on an unsupportive mattress.
- Discoloration: Mattresses typically change color slightly over time due to the oxidation of the outer cover. However, if your mattress is excessively discolored, it may be time for a new one.
- Allergies: Innerspring mattresses accumulate dust, dirt, skin cells, hair, and other allergens over time. If you’ve begun experiencing allergies in the mornings, it could be time to replace your mattress with a fresh, allergen-free one.
Find Out More:How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?
Sell Your Mattress On Craigslist
You can sell your mattress on Craigslist. You should make sure the mattress is clean, in good condition and you set a price that is reasonable. Be willing to negotiate with potential buyers if they offer less than what you want for it. Make sure you are clear about your terms of sale when advertising it on Craigslist, for example being specific about how much room will be left open for negotiation and how soon payment must be made before delivery takes place so that there are no misunderstandings between buyer and sellers .
Remember to list the size as well as any positive features like it coming from a smoke or pet-free home.
Pro tip: Time your mattress listing for a Friday afternoon or evening when people are planning out their weekend garage sale activities.
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