I recently got a new mattress that Midnight Helix Luxethat I have been testing at home for a few months now (complete article review will follow shortly). This purchase meant that my friend and I had to replace our old Casper Select mattress. Although we were relieved to finally find a bed that worked for both of us, we still had to think about what we should do with our old mattress because we had no place to keep it.
The most difficult thing about buying a new bed is to get rid of the old one. Here is everything I did Remove my old mattress And how I met some cool people on the way.
My old mattress had to go
My friend and I live in a smaller house, so it was difficult to ignore the additional queen-size mattress that leaned on the wall of our bedroom. The simplest and most convenient way would have been to leave it on the street and to agree on a large collection in our city. This service is free in our region. However, I didn’t want my old mattress to end up at the landfill.
First, my old Casper was not that old yet – we had it less than three years and he was in a great condition. Although we have two dogs, we always left a mattress sauce on the bed and tried to keep it as clean as possible. There were no cracks or cracks in the cover. While Full foam mattresses How our worsen faster than Hybrid bedsWith us it was still many years. The bed could still go to someone who needs it.
I started the distance process with friends and family. My friend and I sent text messages to our loved ones in the surrounding area to see if someone was looking for a new mattress. I also looked at the Facebook marketplace and local groups that bought and sold articles. Unfortunately we were not lucky and stayed with the Casper for a while.
After exhausting the simpler options, I was looking for places where we could use it. A simple Google search showed that the goodwill in my area did not accept used mattresses, and the idea of installing the bed into my car and handing it into somewhere was a completely different beast. Further research led me to a local organization that accepts furniture and mattress donations- and, even better, picks them up at home.
Local non -profit organizations for gently used mattresses
Beds for children is a non -profit organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was familiar with it before I started my research because it works with many local companies. The organization’s philanthropy is simple: the aim is to provide needy families beds and vital furniture.
This non -profit organization accepts various furniture donations: box spring beds, children’s beds, chests of drawers, small tables, new bed linen, new pillows, new mattress sauces, new blankets and quilted ceilings and of course mattresses. Zach Smith, the manager of the non -profit organization, told CNET: “In 2023 we received 3,900 donated mattresses.” These are almost 4,000 beds outside the landfill and in family houses that they need.
In addition to donations from locals, Beds for Kids also receives donated mattresses from larger companies and universities. For example, the University of North Carolina Charlotte donates its used dormitory beds. “(Universities) exchange them about every five years. We love these mattresses because they consist of a durable fabric that is waterproof and bed bug resistant, ”said Smith.
Beds for Kids also works together Ashley Homestore About his licensee Broad River Retail. Smith said: “Broad River has been a partner of us since our foundation. They donate new mattresses, but also encourage people who buy new beds and furniture to donate their old objects to us when the condition corresponds to our standards. This partnership is of crucial importance for the way we serve, and enables us to continue to receive the inventory that we need to support families in our community. ”
How your bed benefits from a needy family
My donation process to Bed for Kids went smoothly. After making an inquiry on the website, I was contacted Lineberry by warehouse manager. I then sent a few pictures of the mattress to make sure it is in good condition. We made a pick -up date and then two team members carried the bed out of my house and in their trucks. A tax-deductible fee of $ 30 is incurred for pick-up, but tax donations are free of charge.
Since these donated mattresses go directly to someone you need, a bed has to meet some requirements. Smith said: “We demand that (used mattresses) are less than eight years old and have no cracks, cracks or spots. The brand does not matter. ”Note that these requirements are specific to this local organization. An organization that accepts mattresses near you may have stricter or looser guidelines.
As soon as the bed is no longer in your hands, it goes through an inspection and cleaning process. “After we have received the donated mattresses, we send them to a place called Carolina Dry Heat for disinfection to ensure that they are clean and free of bed bugs.” In the case of possibly used mattresses Bed bug are always the main concern.
In 2023, Beds for Kids recorded a record of 1,002 deliveries to families in the region. With the help of 2,783 volunteers, they provided 3,948 people in need. “It is important to us that we create a space in which furniture companies, universities and individuals can donate their mattresses sustainably,” concluded Smith.
More ways to get rid of your old bed
If you do not find a local charity that you can donate to, or your donation cannot be transported to a place where old mattresses are accepted, you may find some options near you:
- Mass collection: If this service is offered, you can park a mattress on your street and make an appointment for collection in your city.
- Benevolence or habitat for humanity: Some locations from Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity accept mattress donations. Check your local websites.
- Supply: This organization, founded by veterans and owner -managed organization, picks up Möbel in every condition.
- Friends or family members: Contact friends and family to find out if you need a mattress.
- Mattress brands: Some mattress brands take over their old mattress when you buy a new one.
- Local buying and sales groups: Try to sell or give away your used mattress on Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle Network, Nextdoor or Craigslist.
- Recycling services: A moreating world is a nationwide mattress recycling and disposal service that picks up your bed at your home.
- Local animal shelters: Some homeless accommodation may accept mattress donations.
- Upcycling and DIY art crafts: Fill your pet’s bed with an additional foam, use the coils as a wine rack or make a wooden box out of foundations.
The bottom line: try to keep your mattress away from the landfill. I know that this is not possible with every mattress: some are too old or torn to give them new ones. But according to the Mattress recycling councilMore than 75 % of a mattress are recyclable. This includes materials such as foam, steel coils, some fibers and sometimes wood. There may be places near you that either recycle old beds or accept donations.
I am lucky enough to have found an organization that not only simplified the donation process, but also made me feel good where my old bed belongs.
