You’ve had your mattress for a while now, but the springs are getting worse and you’re constantly disturbed by the squeaking.
What do you do?
Well, it’s time for a new purchase, but don’t just chuck your old mattress in the trash.
You can reuse or recycle it.
When a new, more comfortable mattress has made its way into your bedroom and taken up residence in your bed frame, you better believe that it’s time to give the old one some new life.
With that being said, not many of us know what to do with an old mattress.
Luckily, we’ve done the due diligence and compiled some handy tips to make sure your old mattress doesn’t end up in a landfill.
What to do with an old mattress
Mattresses are an important part of any household.
Not only does it provide a place for people to comfortably sleep, but mattresses are also an essential component for building up a home comfort system.
However, when they get old or worn out, many people often toss them in the trash.
But this is not necessary.
Instead, you can recycle your old mattress by following these creative ideas.
Below are 12 ideas that you can use to make the most out of an old mattress.
Donate it
You might have heard somewhere that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Your old mattress may not be so appealing to you but it could be quite useful for someone else.
So if you are planning on replacing your mattress, you better check with your city council to find out the best places you can donate your unwanted mattress.
This way, instead of contributing to local landfills, you will be making way for a great cause.
Local charities, The Salvation Army, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity and more will happily accept the mattress.
There are many needy households and families out there who would appreciate a comfortable mattress to sleep on at night.
This way, you can make a difference and contribute to a worthy cause.
Sell it
There are many local websites that offer the option of selling your old mattress online.
Places like Poshmark, OfferUp and Craigslist will all be happy to take your old mattress off your hands.
For some people, selling their unwanted mattress is much more valuable than donating it because they can get a lot of money for them.
That said, don’t just offer up your mattress for sale without disinfecting and cleaning it first.
If you are planning on using the cash for a replacement mattress, you better sanitize and clean your unwanted mattress in preparation for the sale.
Some people have sensitive skin and might end up with a rash, or even worse, an allergy caused by the dust mites that live in your old mattress.
You can disinfect your unwanted mattress by putting some disinfectant into a spray bottle and squirting it over the surface of the mattress.
Now, you can easily make $200 to $300 for a queen-sized mattress that was sitting in your garage or bedroom taking up space.
So if you are planning on buying a new mattress in the near future, selling your old one could help you save a hefty amount of money.
Repair worn out mattress
Many old sofas and dining sets are often reupholstered and given a second chance at life.
Why can’t we do the same for mattresses?
If you find your mattress getting worn out, you may want to consider repairing it.
Sometimes, it’s not necessary to run out and purchase a new mattress as soon as the old one shows any signs of wear.
Just look at it like fixing an old car, which is also a very popular hobby these days.
If you are handy and have a few tools lying around, there is nothing stopping you from repairing your old mattress.
Old mattresses can be repaired with new fabric or even with new studs and springs.
You can do the repair yourself or take it to a professional if you have no idea on how to fix it.
Recycle
We all know that recycling is the key to keeping our planet green and clean for generations to come.
And according to the Mattress Recycling Council, over 75% of mattress components are recyclable.
On that note, do your part by recycling your old mattress and preventing it from becoming a part of the local landfill.
There are certain recycling facilities that will happily accept your old mattress and recycle it responsibly.
For example, if you live in New York City, you might want to find out where you can drop off your aged mattress for recycling.
The best thing about recycling is that it keeps the material out of landfills and ensures its reuse or conversion into another product.
This helps minimize environmental pollution and degradation.
Turn memory foam mattress into a bed for your pet
Did you know that you can turn an old memory foam mattress into a bed for your pet?
This is one of the most useful ideas that could come in handy for a lot of pet owners.
Some people have their pets sleep in the same bed as them and this is often not practical because of their size.
However, a memory foam mattress can be used to design a cat or dog bed.
This way, your little furry friend can sit on the floor comfortably and not have to sleep on the hardwood floor.
Just cut the mattress into a suitable size and place it in a basket or simply place it on the floor.
It will be used for sleeping and can be placed in the living room or bedroom.
Many pet owners tend to have a lot of pets at home and they often don’t have enough resources to give their fur babies a suitable place to sleep.
So if you are an animal lover, you might want to consider this idea and let your pet sleep in style.
We often tend to forget about the fact that animals are also drawn to comfort, so you may be pleasantly surprised by the fact that your pet will like this new bed.
Use mattress springs to make decorations
There are a lot of creative decorators out there who love to take an old piece of furniture and redesign it into something new.
Mattress springs can be used for this purpose too.
For example, you can reuse the inner springs from your aged mattress to make candle holders, cutlery or even jewelry holders.
Be it to display your favorite picture, candles or old necklaces, you can cut and shape the springs to make them into a beautiful frame.
If designed carefully and with finesse, these items can turn out to be quite stunning for your home décor.
Turn to Pinterest for inspiration and make your old mattress springs into a beautiful decoration for your living room or bedroom.
Make art pieces
As an artist, anything can be used as a medium of expression, and this includes old worn out mattresses as well.
You can take your unwanted mattress, strip it, and turn it into an awesome art piece to display in your house.
You can cut it up into any shape or form that pleases you and even repaint it if you like.
Using an old mattress is something really unique and the next time you have visitors over at your place, they will surely be mesmerized by the sheer beauty of this art piece.
If you need some inspiration or ideas, you can find plenty of images on Pinterest.
Also, check out the local art gallery for more ideas.
You can come up with something so unique and beautiful that it will surely make your house stand out in the crowd.
Make rugs out of the upholstery
Nothing goes to waste when it comes to recycling and this is why you can turn your old used upholstery into a beautiful rug.
You can simply cut it into a shape or size of your choice, and it will make for a perfect addition to any living room or bedroom.
Even if you are not an artist or interested in art, this idea is a really fun project that can help you give a new life to an old mattress.
Add other fabric from old clothes to make a patchwork rug or simply use a plain fabric and add beautiful patterns on it.
Be it stylish around the home or for interior design, you can make your rugs out of old upholstery to give a new life to an old mattress.
Use it to make additional bedding and furniture
Mattresses are so versatile and this is why they can be used to make a number of items around the house.
For example, the fabric and foam can be recycled to create bed pillows, cushions and stuffed animals.
Since they are made with materials that are recyclable or biodegradable, you can use it to make various furniture pieces such as a bean bag.
This, in turn, helps you keep the environment clean and in good order.
There are so many things that you can do with an old mattress that would never have thought of doing in the first place.
So let your creative juices flow and come up with something that you think will amaze you and your family.
Repurpose it in the backyard for the kids
Small children are quite fond of bouncing on things and this is why you can turn the old mattress into a place where they can go and enjoy their time.
In fact, it’s a really good idea for those who have kids and want to give them something fun to do in the backyard.
When you’re in search of a fun outdoor activity for your kids, set up an old mattress on the lawn or in the garden and let them bounce all they want.
And whenever they decide that they’ve had enough, simply remove it to make space for something else.
Repurpose into a porch chair
It’s refreshing to spend quality time outdoors considering how much time people spend in their houses and offices these days.
So if you want to make a small change to the décor of your porch, you can turn an old mattress into a comfortable chair.
You can place it on your patio where you spend most of your time and enjoy evenings with friends and family as you sit back and drink some cold beers or hot tea.
Final Thoughts
The list of items goes on and it is possible to recycle an old mattress, fix it and make use of its materials to make a number of other items.
Apart from the previously mentioned uses, you can also use the fabric and foam from an old mattress to create beach chairs or even a hammock.
So if you don’t have one at home, you can easily create one to enjoy your time as you soak in the sun or catch a good read.
Many people ask themselves how to get rid of an old mattress and this is why they shouldn’t see it as a burden but rather an opportunity to make something new out of it.
FAQs
What do you do with a mattress you don’t want?
If you are looking for a solution to your old mattress troubles, there is no need to worry.
There are many different ways in which you can dispose of it, and recycle its materials so they can be of use in other ways.
If that’s not an option, contact a waste removal company and they’ll haul it away.
Many companies these days offer a service where they will take your old mattress and recycle it into something new.
Can you cut a mattress in half?
Yes, you can cut a mattress in half, and you don’t need to have any special equipment to do so.
The first thing that you’ll need is a knife or scissors, which should be non-serrated.
Cut the mattress in half, which should be easy given that it’s a flat pad.
