Fortunately, it’s easy to shop for good mattresses nowadays because of the Internet. If you’re looking for high-quality mattresses, you can review sites like Best Mattress Australia to gain better insight into options that are right for you.
If you are planning to replace your mattress with a new one, you might be wondering by now if there’s still something you can do with the old one.
Luckily, mattresses contain several useful materials such as steel that make them a good candidate for recycling. In the simplest terms, mattress recycling refers to the process of disassembling, taking apart the parts of the beds, and reusing them for different purposes.
So, don’t throw away that old mattress yet! There are several ways to make use of your old mattress since 80% of its material could still be useful. Below are some creative ways to make use of your old mattress and do your part in waste reduction.
Donate or Sell Your Mattress
The simplest way to recycle your old mattress is to either sell or donate it to people who need it. Some shelters, groups, and individuals in your area might be looking for a free mattress. You can also try donating your old mattress to organizations and institutions.
Churches might need a clean mattress for missions or charity programs. Disaster relief shelters, homeless shelters, and pet rescue centers might also accept mattress donations. You can also sell it during a garage sale.
Get in touch with your friends, family members, and colleagues, or post on community boards to connect with people who might be looking for used mattresses. For hygienic purposes, however, get the mattress thoroughly cleaned before donating or selling it.
If your mattress is in good condition, one of the easiest disposal methods is to donate it to charity. This way you know that your mattress is going to someone in need rather than landfill. Contact your local charity shop to check whether they accept and sell mattresses.
Use It for Your Child’s Play Area
An old mattress can serve as the ideal protective layer for the base of a jungle gym. You can also add it to your child’s crib or playpen so it could serve as a cushion against hard surfaces. It could also work as an affordable alternative to a trampoline!
Before using the mattress, make sure to have it professionally cleaned. Remember that even if your mattress still looks good, it has accumulated years of dust, hair, sweat, mites (possibly), and other particles that are invisible to the naked eye.
DIY Projects
For those who are into crafting and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, you can take apart your old mattress and reuse those parts to make other stuff. For example, you can reuse the buttons and fabric for a sewing project, and use the stuffing to create new pillows, plush toys, or reupholster other furniture. If one of your family members is a craftsman, you can take out the wooden frame and have it sent for crafts or carpentry work.
Décor or Art Projects
If you are really into DIY projects, there’s still more stuff you can create with the materials from your old mattress. You can transform them into décor, art, or organizing racks for your home.
You can create a rack to display your wine bottles out of steel springs. Just use the interior frame of the mattress and place it up against the wall, then place your wine bottles inside the springs. You can also put string lights through the frame, which serves as a cozy fairly light display for your house.
The springs from your old mattress have a lot of uses if you are creative enough. You can use them as a flower vase holder, snack holder, bird feeder, organizing display, jewelry holder, holiday décor, and many more. With a few artistic touches, you can come up with a variety of items with it!
Gardening
You can also recycle your old mattress for gardening purposes. For example, you can take out the springs of your old mattress and use it to create a garden planter. The procedure is very simple. All you need to do is remove the fabric to display the interior frame and springs. Thereafter, station it on the wall and start placing plant pots on the spring holes. You can also modify your old mattress’s wooden frame as an elevated garden bed for flowers, vegetables, or herbs. If you have climbing plants, the spring could serve as trellises.
Sell It as Scrap Metal
A standard mattress usually has a wooden frame, polyurethane foam, steel springs, and exterior fabric. The recycling process involves cutting and peeling the upper fabric layer and separating them to expose the leftover materials. The metal springs can be sold as scrap metal since steel is a valuable material for many manufacturers.
As for the wood, it can also be chipped or utilized as mulch. Various materials can come from both the foam and fabric, so you might get a good deal from the scrap metal dealership! Try getting in touch with your local recycling facilities to confirm if they accept materials from a used mattress.
Composting
Mattress recycling can also be an excellent idea to help the environment. This is where the idea of composting enters the picture. If you have an old mattress, you can recycle it by creating a compost pile.
For example, you can take out both the wooden frame and the stuffing to produce a compost pile in your backyard. Also, you can use the wood slats of the frame to come up with an actual compost bin.
On the other hand, if you need something to protect the compost and keep the pile warm to facilitate the composting process, then, you can utilize the foam padding or cotton stuffing of your old mattress. These things perfectly show how you can efficiently repurpose your old mattress for a composting project.
The Takeaway
Recycling your old mattress comes with plenty of benefits. From reducing your carbon footprint to donating to charity, and crafting tons of DIY projects, this sustainable method can go a long way for you and the environment. Moreover, when you recycle your old mattress, you have the opportunity to be creative in repurposing all its valuable parts.
In addition, repurposing your old mattress will also help you save some money. For example, you don’t have to purchase a new playpen for your child because you can simply upcycle the mattress to be their safe space. Purchasing new racks and organizers is not necessary because you can utilize the wood and springs of your old mattress. The best part? You can customize all these according to your personal style!
Therefore, the next time you decide to purchase a new bed and get rid of the old one, be sure to keep these recycling tips in mind. This article can serve as your guide and a reminder that an old mattress can outlive its original purpose as long as you are creative enough!
Sleep plays a vital role in your overall health and wellness. Getting enough sleep every night leads to better productivity and mental concentration, better calorie regulation, greater athletic performance, and lowers risk of gaining weight. Your emotional intelligence and immune system will also improve if you prioritize getting at least eight hours of sleep every night.
But, regardless of how important sleep is, a lot of people still struggle to get some shuteye every night. Some are tired and worn out at the end of the day, but when they reach their beds, they find themselves twisting and turning.
If you find yourself in this kind of situation all the time, your mattress might be the culprit. But, if your sleep problems are caused by more than just the wrong mattress, call Alaska Sleep Clinic today @ 907-770-9104 and speak with one of our board-certified sleep specialists. Our free consultation will get you on the right track to improving your sleep and your life.
