Most of us are guilty of using our mattresses beyond their scheduled lifespan. Despite the dust mites, skin cells, and debris it collects, we do not change it as often. Even when you do plan to buy a new one, a thought always remains at the back of one’s mind – what to do with old mattress? You have the answers right here!
In this world of sustainability, and environment-consciousness, rather than simply ditching a mattress over, how about utilizing it correctly? We will list out some of the ways, you can try to better dispose of the old one, and that too in an ecological manner.
Table of Contents
What are the signs you must replace your mattress?
There are a handful of signs that show you need a replacement –
| SIGNS | SLEEP ISSUES YOU FACE |
| Lumps in your mattress | Uncomfortable |
| Coils felt through at the top | Constant issues at the back, problems falling asleep |
| Sagging and making noises | Not being able to sleep correctly and wake up feeling tired |
| Hammocking | If more than 2 people sleep on the mattress, you can feel each other’s body movements |
If you see any of these signs or any additional issues, it is time to get a new bedstead.
What to do with old mattress?
Here is a list of ways you can reutilize the old mattress correctly –
1. Donating it is the best option
The first and the most crucial of the steps you can take is donating the mattress. You can donate the mattress in multiple places – from orphanages to shelter homes, disaster relief shelters, and charitable organizations.
However, before you can donate it to any such place, make it a point to check for bug infestation, holes, rips, tears, and stains. Opt for vacuum cleaning or go in for spot cleaning options before donating it.
2. Go in for exchange offers
If you want to know what to do with old mattress, apart from donating it, then exchange offers are a great option! Most companies these days offer exchanges, wherein your old mattress gets exchanged with a new one (with some monetary compensation as well). Therefore, look out for those companies that offer an exchange.
3. Opt for DIY options
There’s nothing better than DIY when it comes to dealing with old mattresses. In this case, let us discuss some of the DIY techniques that you can check out in order to deal with the old mattress –
DIY 1 – Upcycle your mattress in the outdoor area
The first and most opted DIY strategy is – upcycling the mattress in your outdoor space. Garden beds are the newest addition to ecological farming and you can use your old bedstead for that purpose.
DIY 2 – Use it as an art decor
For all the creative souls who are trying to figure out what to do with old mattress – here’s your chance to curate art pieces out of it! You can make dog beds out of the old mattress, or even make a bed-slat bookshelf that is trending in today’s times! Apart from that, you can also make wine racks out of the steel springs! Do you have any other ideas in your mind? Do not forget to share those with us in the comments section.
DIY 3 – It can be used for home repair purposes
The last of the DIY ways to deal with an old mattress is to use it as padding when repairing your home. At times, when you are moving homes or even reshuffling the furniture in your home, you will require a padding material or foam blanket to protect the house fixtures. Also, if some portion of your home is leaking, or you wish to cover a particular area of your house (for whatever reason), then the old mattress can be of real help!
DIY 4. Disassemble it and use it in parts
For those of you who are not up for the DIY methods or who do not want to recycle the mattress, you can always disassemble it and utilize it in parts. How to do this? Use the mattress’s fabric or the inside stuffing for reupholstering or even re-stuffing new pillows. You can use the metal springs that are there for bottle holders (especially wine bottles).
DIY 5. Compost the mattress
The last of the ways to deal with the query – what to do with old mattress, is composting it. Most of these bedsteads come with stuffing and wooden frames that can be used in composting. Whether it is the cotton padding that protects the pile and provides warmth – or it is the wooden slats that make the compost bin, both of these enhance the compost pile and prep it for the farming/gardening process.
These are some of the best alternatives you can try with old mattresses. If you have any other options, please share them with us in the comments section.
Parting thoughts
Though time and again, we tend to extend our mattress’s stay, changing it with time (at least once in 10-12 years) is the norm. Having said that, most people face problems when dealing with old mattresses. If you have read this post well, you now have a better idea about what to do with old mattress and proceed in that direction.
If you enjoyed reading this post and want to read more quirky posts like this, keep an eye out for this website. We will keep bringing you more exciting tips and stories!