Places to Donate a Mattress
Salvation Army The Salvation Army will gladly take your mattress off of your hands. After finding your local Salvation Army donation center, you can either take your mattress in yourself to donate it, or you can schedule a free pick-up. According to the Salvation Army’s donation value guide for furniture, they accept both single and double size mattresses, as well as single, full, queen, and king sized beds and sleeper sofas with their mattresses.
Furniture Bank Network The Furniture Bank Network is a network of charities and other organizations that spans across the U.S. and focuses on furniture donations. Whether you’ll be able to donate your mattress is completely up to your local organization, as donation needs as well as the type of furniture that is being accepted can vary by location. For example, if there was an infestation of bed bugs in one particular community, your local furniture bank may not be accepting mattress donations. In any case, it’s best to look into any information they might have available on their website, or give them a call.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore These are independently owned reuse stores that are being operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. Acceptance of mattress donations varies by location as well as current intake needs and other policies. The ability to have your mattress picked up will also vary by location, so it’s best to call your local Habitat ReStore and ask about donations and pick-up services.
Vietnam Veterans of America VVA is a national organization dedicated to Vietnam veterans and their families. They accept furniture, clothing, shoes, books, toys, and much more, and they would surely appreciate anything you have to offer. Pick-up services are also available in certain areas.
Other charitable organizations You can use various databases and online networks to find other charities in your area that might accept mattress donations. Donation Town is one such site that will help you find local charities that will be able to take your mattress off your hands. This site can also help you schedule pick-ups for the various organizations and charities.
Local shelters Homeless shelters, women’s shelters, and many other shelters may be in need of your gently used mattress, so it’s definitely worth giving them a call to see about donation needs and policies.
Friends and family Ask people you know if they’re in need of a mattress. Donating doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go through an organization of some kind. You can donate to anyone you know who may be looking for a spare mattress.
Requirements for Donated Mattresses
Clear of any infestations. Bed bugs, mold, and any other infestations in your mattress immediately make it unqualified to be donated. Even if you clean the mattress at a surface level, these infestations are often rooted deep within the mattress, and any mattress that has such infestations should not be donated.
No major structural issues. Broken or bent coils, as well as excessive wear and tear to the mattress may make it ineligible to be donated. Excessive sagging, irregular bunching, and large, permanent indentations are just a few examples. While your favorite you-shaped dent might have been comfortable to you, it probably won’t be received as well by a donation organization.
Absence of rips, tears, and holes. Rips and tears that are large and obvious are certainly unacceptable, but even small holes and rips, such as from an animal chewing on the mattress or from a cigarette burn, can also unfortunately disqualify your mattress.
No stains or discoloration. Both large and small stains, as well as discoloration from use, will be unacceptable when making a donation. You can use a vacuum or spot clean your mattress to try and bring it up to standard before donating, but if it’s seriously discolored, then it might be a lost cause.
Lacking any odor. If you yourself cannot detect any odor coming from your mattress, don’t immediately trust your nose and call in a friend or family member to act as a second judge. Donation centers won’t want a mattress that smells unpleasant. To remove odor, try sprinkling baking soda over the surface of the mattress and letting it sit for a few hours before vacuuming it off. Also let your mattress air outside if possible.
Alternatives to Donating a Mattress
Recycle your mattress. As tempting as it may be, simply throwing out your mattress is extremely damaging to the environment, as they take up a lot of space in landfills and do not decompose or compress easily. Therefore, you should take the proper steps to recycle your mattress or contact a service to help with the process. Bye Bye Mattress is a site that will help you find a recycling center near you that will take your mattress and dispose of it in a way that will not harm the environment. Earth 911 is a site that provides all kinds of information about recycling, including recycling mattresses and memory foam.
Sell your mattress or give it away for free. Using online marketplaces such as Craigslist or Facebook, you might even be able to get some money back for your mattress. If you don’t necessarily care about making money off of your old mattress, you can always list it as free. Just be cautious of sending out personal information, and always try your best to meet up in a public place where the exchange can take place.
Look into companies with take-back programs. Some companies will actually offer to take your mattress back from you several years after you have bought it in the hopes that you will buy your next mattress from them as well. This can be a very convenient option so long as you’re sure the place you bought your mattress will remain in business long enough to collect your mattress.
Repurpose pieces of your mattress. You can always get crafty and do some at-home upcycling as well. Many components and materials from your mattress can go into other projects, and whatever is not used can then be recycled. Some ideas for projects that will repurpose your mattress include: Soft and cushy pet beds and cushions using the padding or foam. Springy carpet padding or shipping material using the foam from the mattress. Stylish upholstered furniture using the mattress cover. Nifty wine racks using the steel springs. Unique outdoor furniture and decor using the springs or parts of the bed frame.
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