# How to Get Rid of an Old, Disgusting Mattress and Boxspring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175 "2011-08-02T14:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/61 "2011-08-03T11:44:38Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Have you just tried putting up a Cragislist ad saying, “$60 cash to haul old mattress off property.” Because for $40 he can get me to take one apart, bag the unsellable parts, and take the springs down to the recyclers in my pickup? (Last time I got $7 for a boxspring, which more than paid for the gas to haul it and lunch). I’m just not looking forward to it, that’s all. Neither was he (he’s doing some of them, too). 10 years ago, yeah, he probably would have done it that way but the economy has hit him hard, too, so he’s trying to find the most cost-effective and legal way to do this. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/62 "2011-08-03T11:46:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > As for the fly-by-night haulers - how do you think crap like this winds up beside the road and in fields and backlots? If we can’t get someone to haul one of these away legally for under $50 (or more) what makes you think the shady guys we slip $20 will be able to do it? How do you think they make a profit? It ain’t by paying landfill fees. Based on my experiences I think $60 is a pretty reasonable expectation for “random guy with a truck” to handle the matter. There are a lot of independent contractors who have legal places to dispose of things, and would be willing to make a few sawbucks for a half hour’s work. It would probably be someone who wouldn’t have to go very far out of their way to swing by your place. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/63 "2011-08-03T11:48:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Because for $40 he can get me to take one apart, bag the unsellable parts, and take the springs down to the recyclers in my pickup? (Last time I got $7 for a boxspring, which more than paid for the gas to haul it and lunch). > > I’m just not looking forward to it, that’s all. Neither was he (he’s doing some of them, too). 10 years ago, yeah, he probably would have done it that way but the economy has hit him hard, too, so he’s trying to find the most cost-effective and legal way to do this. Yeah…that’s reasonable if you value your labor at that rate. For me I don’t think I would disassemble a mattress for under several hundred dollars, especially a nasty mattress. I’m not afraid of getting my hands dirty, that’s just the sort of job I really fucking hate and would be willing to pay a premium to not have to do myself. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/64 "2011-08-03T11:50:16Z")
Going rate around here is $20 a pickup load. It’s one thing for these guys to handle yardwaste, because there’s a limit to the damage grass clippings and tree branches can do, but give 'em $60 to haul a mattress they’re going to pocket the “extra” and just dump the mattress. Trust me on this, I’ve had some experience with these guys, both in hiring them to haul and catching them dumping shit in the back of the property I live on. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/65 "2011-08-03T11:56:13Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Yeah…that’s reasonable if you value your labor at that rate. For me I don’t think I would disassemble a mattress for under several hundred dollars, especially a nasty mattress. I’m not afraid of getting my hands dirty, that’s just the sort of job I really fucking hate and would be willing to pay a premium to not have to do myself. Yeah, well, I’ve also helped clean out septic tanks. I don’t like filth either, but someone has to clean it up and I can’t seem to get other work these days. I have an amazing collection of heavy work gloves, rubber gauntlets, and a “darth vader” style respirator. It’s still a premium over what I normally charge, but having taken a mattress apart before I know how long it takes (actually, having them half-rotted makes that easier, if smellier) and can do it with reasonable efficiency. It’s just utterly disgusting and it’s hotter than hell outside right now, so it seemed worth investigating alternatives. If you’re wondering, if I have the proper tools, it only takes 60-90 minutes. Except when it’s this hot I just don’t work as fast. Yes, I’m doing this outside, no way would I want these pieces of crap in my living space. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/66 "2011-08-03T12:47:02Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > the foam making up most of a mattress will generate extremely toxic smoke. I understand the appeal of burning the damn thing, you’d just be left with the metal which you could then sell for scrap, but seriously people, those of you suggesting burning, don’t you realize how toxic burning foam is? Thanks. needed to be said. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/68 "2014-01-25T19:40:30Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/69 "2014-01-25T19:41:30Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Pile them on a street corner with a sign that says “free trampolines.” Won’t work. If, on the other hand, the sign said “matresses $10 each” they’d be gone overnight. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/70 "2014-01-25T20:13:38Z")
Epilogue? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/71 "2014-01-25T22:25:51Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > Won’t work. > > If, on the other hand, the sign said “matresses $10 each” they’d be gone overnight. What about a sign that said “keep off the trampolines”? Since the thread was posted, I’ve used one of those Haul’s-it-All places. They were fantastic–our basement went from a candidate for ‘Hoarders’ to a sea of empty space in a short time for what was to us a shockingly low price. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/72 "2014-01-25T23:26:33Z")
PEOPLE!!! THIS IS INDIANA - You think Texas is Red? In IN, the counties are divided into townships - there are 3 levels of govt, and none of them do any more than a good Republican thinks is the proper role of government. No service means no service. I grew up in the hill country of southern IN - yes, there were empty lots everywhere which were used as illegal dumps. I never stayed long enough to run into heavy trash disposal, but this thread explains the illegal dumps everywhere. Unfortunately, NW IN is flat and devoid of gullies. I can’t come up with anything less expensive than craigslist. I’d resign myself to the idea that whoever takes them away cheapest probably is not going to be responsible about their disposal. Correction - 1 idea. Pubbies resent the homeless with a passion. Find a homeless encampment and dump the stuff around the edges - they probably won’t want them either (if they do, they can drag them). When the police make their next sweep and destroy the few possessions the homeless have, they will take the stuff and blame the homeless. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/73 "2014-01-25T23:46:28Z")
I’d like an update from Broomstick on how this turned out! ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/74 "2014-01-26T02:46:45Z")
Did anyone suggest digging a hole and burying them? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/75 "2014-01-26T14:36:18Z")
We stripped the non-metal parts off the mattresses, bagged 'em, and put them in the regular dumpster because, apparently, that made it all sufficiently non-mattress like to make them no longer forbidden. We sold the boxsprings for scrap metal. It was hot, icky work, but since we needed money there was at least that reward at the end. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/76 "2014-01-27T01:41:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > We stripped the non-metal parts off the mattresses, bagged 'em, and put them in the regular dumpster because, apparently, that made it all sufficiently non-mattress like to make them no longer forbidden. We sold the boxsprings for scrap metal. It was hot, icky work, but since we needed money there was at least that reward at the end. Kind of reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where no garbage dump would take the muffin stumps… and they had to get “a guy” who “made problems go away”! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/77 "2014-01-27T18:15:49Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > We stripped the non-metal parts off the mattresses, bagged 'em, and put them in the regular dumpster because, apparently, that made it all sufficiently non-mattress like to make them no longer forbidden. We sold the boxsprings for scrap metal. It was hot, icky work, but since we needed money there was at least that reward at the end. Can I be nosy and ask how much dough you got for the metal? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/78 "2014-01-27T19:30:15Z")
Roughly $7/boxspring, which worked out to around $20/hour for the effort. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/79 "2014-01-28T00:19:17Z")
43,508 hits. Is this a record? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/80 "2014-01-28T00:28:12Z")
Wonder if the question is a frequent google search? Or maybe a glitch? It does seem inordinately high. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175/81 "2014-01-28T00:43:32Z")
It’s No.5 on the list in a Google search. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-rid-of-an-old-disgusting-mattress-and-boxspring/591175.md?page=5)