7 Places to Donate Your Old Mattress
7 Places to Donate Your Old Mattress
Sometimes a mattress has done its due diligence and it is past time for a new one, but throwing it away just seems like a waste. Fear not! There are plenty of useful ways to dispose of that old mattress, leaving you guilt free and with plenty of space for that brand-new mattress you’ve been eyeing.
1. National Furniture Bank Association
The National Furniture Bank Association is a non-profit organization that partners with numerous furniture banks to give out pieces of furniture for little or no cost. It works through referrals from schools, churches, and other agencies to deliver pieces of furniture to those who desperately need them. There are many people who need mattresses to sleep on, and your donation would go a long way to help them out.
2. Religious Charities
Religious charities provide material necessities including food, clothes, and even your old mattress to help those in desperate need. Donations to such local charities in your community would go a long way to make their mission effective.
3. Mattress Removal Service
For a small fee, you could also use a local mattress removal service in your area. Online services typically allow you to schedule a date for pickup and receive a free quote for the cost. This is an excellent and seamless way to get rid of your used mattress. What’s even better is some companies will also remove old furniture, electronics, appliances, and much more. And you know what that means … more room for new stuff!
4. Give to a Friend
You might know someone who is great at DIY projects, or maybe a friend that can repurpose your mattress padding into a dog bed. Check with your social circle – or even try posting on social media — just in case anyone is need of a used mattress.
5. Donate
While recycling mattresses reduces and repurposes mattress content, donation through reuse helps the environment, while also helping others. One option is to contact local thrift stores, food pantries, or shelters. Sometimes if the company doesn’t have a facility large enough to store items as large as a king size mattress or box spring, they might instead take your phone number and contact you when they find a new home for your bed.
6. Recycle
Mattresses are quite recyclable. Mattresses and box springs are created from materials including wood, metal, fabric, and plastic, all of which can be recycled once they are separated. The recovery rate of recyclable bed materials is over 95 percent.
7. Repurpose
Most of the materials in a mattress can be reused. Parts of the mattress including the foam padding, buttons, mattress padding, springs, fabric, and wood frames can all be repurposed. The foam padding is durable but soft, making it perfect for stuffing pillows, filling cushions, as shipping materials, or even reusing for small insulation projects. If taken off carefully and without damage, buttons can be reused for any sewing project.
If it’s not too damaged, the actual padding at the top of the mattress can be cut, washed, and re-sewn for pet beds, kneeling pads, or small scrubbing pads. Because they’re so durable, springs can be used in many outdoor settings. If you have a queen or king mattress, you can usually remove the fabric in one piece, and use it as a drop cloth for painting or other messy projects. Smaller pieces can be washed and used for cleaning rags or sewn into sacks for groceries or other goods.
Don’t be afraid to get creative and make something unique and fun or donate the scrap pieces to friends who enjoy crafts and woodworking!
