Having your old mattress hauled away could cost you some money and isn’t the most environmentally friendly option. Sometimes it is an option to have your old mattress removed with the delivery of a new mattress but there are situations where this is not available.

If you are willing to put in a little work, getting rid of your mattress can be free, easy, and more environmentally friendly. Check it out as this man takes apart his mattress easily on his own. If he can do it, so can you.

How Long Should A Mattress Last

The average life of a mattress is roughly 7 to 10 years. Many factors, such as type and quality of mattress, will affect just how long you can comfortably sleep on a mattress before disposing of it.

Ways to Dispose of a Mattress

There are three easy ways to dispose of a mattress when the time comes. How you choose to dispose of the mattress will depend on condition of the mattress, how much time you have, and potentially disposal options in your community.

1. Donate Your Old Mattress

Depending on the condition of your old mattress, donating the mattress to a worthy charity may be the best option for you. It is free and minimal work, meaning you might not have to do more than remove the sheets in order to get it ready to go. For more information on finding a charity, you can search here.

2. Break Down Your Mattress

Many times, you might find you have a mattress that no charity will accept. Maybe it was one in your basement you held onto for years and is covered in mildew or maybe it is a broken down mattress one of your tenants left behind. In any case, you can follow these basic steps to get your mattress ready for disposal:

  1. Bring the mattress outside, if you are worried about bed bugs, you may want to let it sit for a few days. This will help ensure the bed bugs will run off. If you are worried about bed bugs, you may want to dispose of the mattress through a service and inquire about an exterminator to remove them.
  2. With a sharp knife, remove the cover of the mattress and box spring by cutting around the edges and pulling the fabric from the frame. Most mattress fabrics are stapled on, so use thick gloves to remove the cover and be mindful of sharp staples and edges.
  3. Clean out all padding and cloth from the springs. Some higher end mattresses have individual springs so you may need to gather them together when you are done removing the fabric.
  4. You can take the springs to a recycling center or call a local scrapper to come collect it for you. The mattress springs are fully recyclable and a good option for when you remove the non-recyclable padding and cover material.
  5. Break down the box spring. Remove the padding entirely from the wooden frame. Then cut the wooden frame up into small pieces using a hand saw or power saw. Be careful when cutting the box frame and use proper cutting techniques. Once cut up, you can use the pieces as kindling for a fire, use them as scrap wood, or dispose of them in your garbage.
  6. Once the fabric is removed, place the fabric and stuffing into bags. You can then dispose of it in your regular trash. Do check with your trash collection or township to see about special instructions. In some areas, law requires that you use special bags to help stop the spread of bed bugs.

3. Check Out Drop Off Center Options

Some townships and counties have recycling centers where you can drop off a full mattress and box spring to be recycled. If you have a truck, this may be a great option if you are short on time and don’t want to spend a few hours tearing your mattress apart. If you go with this option, do check first to see if there is a fee attached to dropping off your mattress.

4. Hire a Service To Take it Away

There are services that will, for a fee, take away your mattress. Typically, they will take your mattress away in any condition, so ones a donation center will reject, they will take away. The drawback, of course, is it will cost you some money. You can try this service if you decide to have it taken away. In cases where you are buying a new mattress, check to see if your retailer will take away your old mattress as part of the delivery service. If so, that is probably your best option to set up removal at the time you are replacing the mattress.

Conclusion

Mattress disposal does not have to be stressful or even expensive. If you are a do it yourselfer, you can get rid of a mattress with a little work and time. If you are short on time, you have options available for others to come and take it off your hands. Checking out all options available is your best bet to making an informed decision about what to do with your old mattress.

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