Would you accept a used mattress?

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

A friend of mine just broke up with his girlfriend. They're vacating their apartment and unloading the big stuff, including a very nice looking mattress that's about twice the thickness of my tired old mattress. It looks like it cost $1500 or so and is clean and in good shape. He's been sleeping on it for about a year and before that it went largely unused in his aunt's guest room.

My brother upon hearing news that I was going to accept a used mattress into my house, was appalled and claimed in was unhygienic. Hmmmm.....

Thoughts on a used mattress?

[skygazer]

1. Well, I have some thoughts on your brother

Has he never slept in a motel?

Yeah, I'd take a used mattress in excellent condition. I have several times, in fact.

[PeaceNikki]

2. Depends on who used. In your case, I see no problem.

Tell your brother to lighten up!!

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

8. Agreed...

My brother is a pretty tightly wound guy. He's also never been light in the wallet like me. :)

[PeaceNikki]

12. Be sure to wipe some cooties on him after you've slept in it a while.

I'd jump all over that new mattress. Figuratively, of course.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

14. I'll make sure to do just that.

:D

[NewJeffCT]

3. I wouldn't do it

but, then that is me.

Just beware of the mattress police.

[LynneSin]

4. Check around his ankles

if the mattress is infested with bed bugs he would have tiny bits around the ankles and feet.

If there are no bites then go for it!

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

10. No bed bugs....

First question I asked. Thank you for the tip. :)

[LynneSin]

26. If I was trying to pawn off a mattress on you the last thing I would tell you would be it's infested

But that's just me.

Fortunately my mattress is not infested

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

28. We were about to run it to the dump

So, he was gonna unload it regardless of whether I took it.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. If your brother has ever stayed in a hotel, he's slept on a used mattress.

If it's clean, in good shape, from someone you know, and better than the broken down old thing you have now, I'd say take it.
I've had used mattresses handed down by friends. No cootie invasions occurred.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. yes i would.you do you sheets on the mattress right?

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

7. Haha....of course!

I'm surprised that, as a New Yorker, you don't object. All my friends in the city are justifiably freaked about bed bugs.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. meh!

i havent yet encounted bed bugs. i think the bed bug fad of 2005-2006 is over.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

13. I hope you didn't just curse yourself.

:scared:

:)

[Dr. Strange]

20. That's just sick!

Do YOU sheets on YOUR mattress? Gross!
Ya sheet-head!

:P

[La Lioness Priyanka]

24. lol!

:rofl:

[ruiner4u]

11. in a heartbeat...

im sleeping on a 20 year old single and would defiantly take a much newer model...


maybe if I had a large amount of disposable income I would be grossed out...:)

[redqueen]

15. if it's clean and in good shape... hell yes i would

those things are frickin expensive x(

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

16. Yeah, I've always gone cheap on my mattresses

so when this really plush one became available, I thought I should jump on it (not literally, mind you). Problem is, now I have to buy new sheets because it's an 18" mattress; none of my current sheet sets will fit on it!

[redqueen]

18. indeed...

i had no such deals to jump on, so i had to buy mine new. curses!

don't you like new sheets, though? look at it this way... you have money to buy sheets cause you ain't buyin a new mattress. see? logic!

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

22. gosh, you're smart.

...for a texan. ;)

[redqueen]

29. ooooooooooh why i oughtta...

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

30. Typical Texan....

Got a problem? Draw your six guns! When will you ever learn? :eyes:

[redqueen]

32. I didn't draw it

and there are only two guns

SO THERE!

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

33. Since you proved your superior counting skills,

I'll withdraw my derogatory Texan remark.

[redqueen]

34. yes!

i win! :7

[yardwork]

41. Go to TJ Maxx and other outlets for discounted sheets.

You can find very nice quality sheets at the discount places. Buy a new mattress pad, new sheets, air out the old mattress, and voila! Good as new.

There used to be a very good reason for avoiding used mattresses, when contagious diseases were epidemic and there were no antibiotics. Unscrupulous manufacturers stuffed mattresses with old (infected) rags and other trash. That's why those scary-sounding labels have to be attached to mattresses (This tag cannot be removed under penalty of LAW!!!)

Nowadays, scarlet fever is rare, and if someone gets it they can use antibiotics to clear it up. It's not likely to be lurking in your friend's mattress. Grab it.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

17. Mattresses are expensive.

IF you can afford it, buy new, but if not, used isn't that bad at all.

[Richard Steele]

19. Clean & in good shape? Unless someone died on it, certainly I would.

I'd hit it with a whole can of Lysol and let it air out
before bringing it inside. No worries!

[Lex]

21. When you go to a hotel or motel, you sleep on a used mattress!

Maybe your brother never travels at all?

As long as you can check for yourself that this one is clean and in good shape, no problem I say.

[Orrex]

25. Sometimes a *very* used mattress

And don't even get me started on the condition of hotel bedspreads...

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

36. Seems like a lot of people share that sentiment....

On the other hand, you don't get a choice about the mattress you sleep on in a hotel and said mattress doesn't enter your house, ya know?

[Lex]

43. You get a choice about whether you go to a motel

and sleep on a mattress. If you go to a motel for the night (choose to), then you will sleep on their mattress. Correct?

Presumably if you will deign to sleep on a hotel mattress, then your sensibilities wouldn't be offended by sleeping on a clean one from a source you know, whether in your home or in your garage or in a hotel.

[stuntcat]

23. people take them a lot, I think

We've been moving the same one around for years but if we didn't have it I'd probably take one a friend offered. I mean it's someone you know.. (and what they said up there about hotel mattresses :( I mean yuck)
If you let it sit out a day or two, maybe spend a few hours in the sun!, I wouldn't be scared of it.
Don't let your brother decide for you, it sounds like he's just being over-picky because it would be great for you to get.. if it was offered to him and if he really needed a mattress then he might think different.
(NOT that I know y'all, sorry to psychoanalyze! I'm just saying, I've seen people close to me get weird when I got lucky)

[krispos42]

27. Go for it

You know the source of the mattress and the conditions on which it was used. I presume that your brother and girlfriend have good hygiene habits. Barring any strange stains or odors, I'd just hose it down with cotton-scented Lysol and curl up on some nice crisp cotton or bamboo-fiber sheets.

[fleabert]

31. have done it, and would do it again...

disinfecting spray is your friend. No major stains or smells? good to go. we all sweat and drool when we sleep, what's the diff if you clean the silly thing?

[TommyO]

35. I've done it twice, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again!

[Kali]

37. hell yes

saving landfill space, resources, and getting a good matress for yourself.

I don't think I have EVER had a new mattress. Personally I kind of hate them, I dream of some sort of platform bed with just a pad, not a honking technological extravaganza with springs and plastic and strange materials and so much wasted storage space! :wtf: but being the cheap skate I am I still have my grandparents mattress we hauled home in the stock trailer.

If there is a chance of critters, Diatomacious Earth is your friend, as is sunlight and a dilute misting of clorox and water.

Enjoy! Your brother is clearly a picky moran! Hope he never has to stay in a hotel, or god forbid a hospital!
:rofl:

(what does he do when he visits friends or relatives?)

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

39. Thanks for the kind words about my brother

and for reiterating (for the umpteenth time) the sentiment about hotel mattresses. Truly a well-considered post.

[Kali]

42. hey - did not mean to offend, sorry

however, the kind of attitude that people (perhaps like your brother?) who think reusing perfectly good consumer items is "icky" it is no wonder we have a solid waste disposal problem in the world.

"eh it's not brand shiny new, throw it away!"

and as for a considered response, sorry not going to spend too much time on the subject - it is pretty simple really. Have a good one.:patriot:

[Arkansas Granny]

38. If you know it's history and it appears to be clean, by all means.

If you're concerned about hygiene, use a spray disinfectant on the surface and/or let it sit in sunlight for a few hours to freshen it up.

[NC_Nurse]

40. Yes. As long as it's clean and they

haven't had a bedbug or flea infestation. Definitely.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

44. I've only had hand me down mattresses.

We went to get a luxurious mattress pad, a down alternative feather bed, and viola! You're not actually touching the mattress, so who cares if it's a hand me down. And yes, we Lysoled it before we slept on it. :shrug:
Duckie