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What to do with an old mattress?

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Mattresses are important investments. You have to sleep on one nightly for years, so you’re likely to be picky when deciding on a mattress to buy. 

However, even if you buy the nicest mattress on the market, you’ll still have to replace it eventually. 

If you’re wondering what to do with an old mattress, Polysleep, your Canadian mattress company, gives you some options. 

Here are 5 Things to Do with an Old Mattress

Two young workers loading an old mattress into a moving van

If you need to get rid of an old mattress, you don’t have to borrow a pickup truck and haul it out to the landfill. 

When thinking of what to do with an old mattress, you may not have considered all the potential options available to you.

  • Donating
  • Selling
  • Recycling
  • Composting
  • Repurposing

When it comes time to replace yours by a brand new Polysleep mattress, it may still have some life left in it. 

In fact, you might need to know what to do with a used mattress because you decided to upgrade to a larger bed. 

Throwing out a perfectly good mattress can feel like quite a waste. 

At Polysleep, we strive to be environmentally friendly. That means reducing waste wherever possible. 

No matter what condition your mattress is in, there are several ways to make use of an old mattress you no longer need or want.

Donate Your Used Mattress

If your mattress is clean and in decent condition, consider donating it. 

Maybe you have a friend in need of a mattress, or you know someone moving into their first apartment. 

A mattress is a big expense. If you can give your mattress away to someone and save them that cost, you should! 

Additionally, you can donate your mattress to international and local charities, organizations, and shelters. 

Polysleep believes that everyone has the right to a good night’s sleep. 

Consider donating to one of the following organizations:

  • National Furniture Bank Association
  • Salvation Army
  • Habitat for Humanity Canada
  • Some local furniture banks
  • Some local homeless shelters and women’s shelters

By donating a mattress in good condition, you can help someone who really needs it. 

Different organizations have different guidelines and rules for accepting mattress donations, so check with your preferred charity or organization before beginning the donation process.

Go ahead and make sure your mattress is as clean and stain-free as possible so that whoever gets to use it next will have a fresh mattress to sleep on at night.

How to clean your mattress?

A clean mattress on the floor with white pillows with two plants next to it

Sell Your Used Mattress

While donating is a philanthropic and selfless act, anyone could sometimes use a little extra cash. 

As we have mentioned before, mattresses are not cheap. 

If you can recoup some of the money you spent on your mattress, why not try? If you’re wondering what to do with an old mattress, consider selling it!

  • Post your used mattress for sale on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Kijiji.
  • Offer to sell your used mattress to a friend who is in the market for one.

Don’t expect to get back the price you paid for your mattress though. 

After all, you have been sleeping on it. 

Still, if your mattress is still fairly new, you can sell it to someone and create a win-win situation for both of you. 

You can get some quick cash, and they can get a good mattress without paying the full retail price!

Recycle Your Old Mattress

Did you know many kinds of mattresses are recyclable? 

If you have recently upgraded or plan to upgrade to a Polysleep mattress, you might be wondering what to do with an old memory foam mattress. 

Consider recycling it! Recycling your old mattress is so much better for the environment than letting it rot in some landfill. 

  • Check with your local recycling company to make sure they accept mattresses.
  • Search for companies that are specialized in mattress recycling.
  • Determine whether you need to haul your mattress or if the recycling company will pick it up from you. 

Recycling is always the better decision when it comes to being socially responsible and environmentally conscious.

Are memory foam mattresses recyclable?

The recycling logo representing recyclable mattresses

Compost Your Old Mattress

Some materials that make up your old mattress are likely compostable. It’s the case of wool, cotton, wood, and other organic materials

If you have a compost bin at home, consider using this sustainable option for mattress disposal. 

It’s best to break your mattress up into pieces by pulling it apart to aid in the breakdown.

Use Parts of Your Mattress to Get Creative

If you like DIY and crafts, your old mattress could come in handy. You can turn its springs and frames into a variety of cool projects and creations around your home. 

  • Bundle springs to create bird’s nests. 
  • Use springs as wine bottle holders. 
  • Remove the fabric and use the inner springs and frame as a planter or garden wall.
  • Hang a frame on your wall and attach photos and decor. 
  • Create jewelry holders out of bedsprings. 

You’ll be surprised at all the things you can accomplish just by using pieces of your old bed.

A bedroom without a bed including a small natural wood roof

Frequently Asked Questions About Mattress Disposal

Most old mattresses are recyclable. The wood frames, foam padding, steel springs, and fabric outer layer can all be made into something else. 

If you want to recycle your old mattress, make sure you contact a company near you that specializes in mattress recycling.

The best way to dispose of mattresses is to recycle them through a mattress recycling company or reuse them to create something new and useful. If your mattress is still in good shape, you can always sell it or donate it.

Consider selling it on an online marketplace, donating it to a local charity, or recycling it through a mattress recycling company.

Never burn a mattress. When the materials that make up a mattress burn, toxic gasses are released into the atmosphere, and they can harm people and animals nearby. It’s also bad for the environment.

If you are wondering what to do with an old memory foam topper, there are plenty of ways to upcycle it into something useful. 

Your dog or cat would love to use it as a new bed. You can cut it up and fill your couch cushions when they get saggy. 

If you are wondering what to do with an old mattress protector, consider upcycling it into something useful, selling it, donating it, or recycling it through a specialized facility. 

The Mattress Recycling Guide

Your Old Mattress Still Has a Lot to Give

A mattress on the floor with a green plant next to it

You might be finished using your mattress, but that does not mean your mattress has seen its last day. 

There are plenty of people out there who are in the market for a mattress and don’t want to pay full price. 

If your mattress is clean, in good shape, and still fairly new, you might even get some money for it. Otherwise, consider donating it to give someone else the chance to sleep well.

However, if your old mattress is really on its last legs, research mattress recycling companies in your area and keep your old mattress from ending up in a landfill. 

For your next mattress, consider a socially-conscious and environmentally-friendly one from our Polysleep mattress collection. Our mattresses are not only affordable, but they are comfortable for the long haul.

Shop your new mattress at Polysleep!

Woman Sitting On Polysleep Bed Shopping On Her Laptop


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