Survey: Would You Buy a Used Mattress?

There are a lot of easy things to do in the bedroom to keep it green. Buy organic bedding. Banish dust bunnies from under the bed. But what about buying used furniture for the bedroom ... specifically, mattresses?

We've never bought a used mattress, but we did sell one to a friend once ... and we know other people who have purchased previously slept-on mattresses. But is it a good idea?

We're curious how people feel about used mattresses. Buying a mattress used means you're keeping it out of a landfill. And buying something used is usually better for the environment than buying something new. But what about the (many) potential downsides? We did a quick search in our local Craigslist. The word "mattress" turned up over 1,000 results. So people are definitely selling them, but are you buying it?

image via Alan Stanton; Flickr.com

Comments (41)

I have never bought a used mattress, but i know that we have gotten some old ones from my parents and my In laws when they bought new ones but they usually go into spare rooms.

I have also sold and given old mattresses to friends who needed them for spare rooms. It isn't often that we throw away a mattress/boxspring.

with the bedbugs on the rise? no way.

The dust mites and allergens plus the growing rampage of bedbugs has me very leery of second hand mattresses. Even my own mattress has a zipper cover that I bought when I had a scare that I had bedbugs. I woke up with bites all over my feet and ankles within days of moving into a new place... turned out to be that mite invasion in the Chicago suburbs 2 summers ago and I was bitten up while out helping my mom garden and the bites don't develop until a day or two later. In my scary moments of potential-bedbug-invasion, my research seemed to say that they are darn near impossible to get rid of. I would never want to go through that nightmare.

No.

I bought one once when I was in grad school, but that was during an especially financially desperate time in my life. I put one of those plastic mattress liners on it, just for peace of mind (whether it was effective or not is another matter). I've also sold mattresses on Craigslist, but always making clear that they're used.

I bought one when I was in grad school. In fact, I think I was at least the third owner of that mattress. But that was grad school.

I suppose I might again, but it would be based on financial need rather than on environmental concerns. And I'd have to be pretty confident about the seller.

Actually, when we moved into our house last year, we arrived on the day of closing to find that the previous occupant had left his mattress and box spring in the living room. He didn't want it and wouldn't pick it up, so the city took it away. But we didn't know that guy or his health at all, and weren't willing to keep it even as a guest bed (which was what my husband's father thought we should do).

Come to think of it, before I bought that mattress from a fellow grad student, I had been renting one. But again, that was based on finances and not environmentalism.

When I moved into my first SF apartment I purchased one from the guy whose room I was moving into - I thought, why not. It wasn't in great shape, but a new mattress cover and I felt okay about it.

When I left the city, I didn't even try selling it at my garage sale but one someone asked if I had a bed for sale and I gave it to them for free. It was for their roommate.

Would and have and might again, depending on the circumstances. In fact, I've only once had a *not* used mattress.

My current used mattress is the biggest, least used, most originally expensive, most costly to me at its resale price, and bar-none best sleeping experience I've ever had. Bought 6 weeks old from an immediately moving coworker whose living conditions I could verify. Previously I have been the owner of a free bust-ass mattress from my partner's sister; a grandparental hand-me-down full mattress (with brass bed frame!); a new middle-of-the-line futon mattress; a used full mattress of unknown provenance; and a grandparental hand-me-down twin mattress.

I may be a skinflint but I'm not stupid, and luck and smarts have kept me plague-free thus far. I don't plan to stop buying gently used mattresses from verifiable sources. It's economic, for me.

The bed my husband and I have now is a hand-me-down from his sister. So yes, I would use a used mattress, but I would have to know and trust the person it was coming from.

I would never buy a used mattress for environmental reasons. Conventional mattresses are just so icky for you, and not to mention where it's been before you snuggled up close to it.

The next big-ticket item we're buying is a natural, organic mattress.

I would have no problem buying a a mattress from a friend who had only used it in a guest bedroom, in fact my current mattress is a hand-me-down from my parents in a similar fashion. Craigslist, however, that's just kind of nasty.

I'd buy a used mattress, but only from a reliable and verifiable source such as a friend, colleague, or family member. I wouldn't buy something like that from Craigslist, it's just too risky.

Only from a friend. I have a mattress from a friend right now, actually.

Bedbugs! Call me paranoid, but I won't even walk within 3 feet of a mattress that's on the street.

From a trusted friend or family member, yes. From craigslist, NO WAY. I'd rather sleep on the floor until I could afford one.

20 million mattresses go to the landfill in the U.S. each year. 20 million. I love how many people said they would never do it for environmental reasons, only financial. Global... Local... Global... Local... Hmmm.
I clearly am not as faint of heart because I'm on my third used mattress, which is in wonderful shape, quite comfortable and bed bug free. And yes, it came from craigslist, and yes, I have no idea what the prior sleeper's situation was. And no. I'm no longer in grad school.
How is this all that different from staying in a hotel where hundreds or thousands of people have shared a mattress? You folks use sheets, right?

Yes, I have from family, a friend, and a neighbor. I would find craigslist to be safe if I get to see what the owners home looks like (if they look like clean people or not) and if the mattress doesn't look too warn.

I don't ever get bitten by anything when I sleep, so it works out pretty well for me.

I wouldn't just grab one off the streets though...

I mean, is there a viable mattress-alternative out there? My fear at having to endure a bedbug invasion will likely always prevent me from taking a mattress from a stranger, but are people sleeping on other things? Whats a less energy/resource hogging alternative to an innerspring mattress and box spring? I'm not talking about green or organic mattresses, I'm asking if there is another sleeping setup/system out there all together that I haven't heard about... anyone?

I wouldn't buy one! But I recently sold mine to a student. In the ad, I made clear that it was in excellent condition, from a pet-free and smoke-free home.

A friend of mine bought a brand new, REALLY nice bed for his ill father. He spent close to $1200 for it and then 3 weeks later, his dad passed away (the bed had a plastic liner, btw). I was searching for a new mattress anyways and it didn't creep me out at all that his dad had died in the bed. I got a practically new mattress for $200, all I had to do was pick it up. I LOVE it. But I've never told my husband how I got it, I don't think he'd like the story very much.

My current mattress I bought from my ex-landlords. Their son had used it for about a year before going off to college. price convenience were the deciding factors for me.

Never!!!!!!! If my sister gave me hers because she was throwing it away etc... then I would take it for a guest room or something, but for me its got to be new.

Thisbreezeisnice, RIGHT ON! I'm on my second used mattress. The first I found on the street in college and slept on for 8 years. The second I bought on CL after thoroughly inspecting it (and looking around the woman's immaculate apartment). If, say, all her possessions had been in bags, I would not have bought it. You are absolutely right about the hotel mattress comment. I'm saving landfill space, guys.

ICKY!!!! Would never want to have a used mattress in my home, especially if it was from a stranger. I'm not even sure I would want it from a family member or friend.

Bedbugs scare me too much. A [female] friend in college was staying at another [male] friend's furnished place during the summer and he had bedbugs in his bed (that she was sleeping in). I think they came from someone in the dorms (there was an outbreak in Feb. and this was June).

Someone did buy a used twin mattress and bed from me, but I think they were using it to stage a house.

BTW, people use sheets, but not everyone uses a mattress pad.

NO. Frankly, too many people live like disgusting slobs for me to be willing to chance it. There's also the strong possibility that my territorial male cat would mark his territory on it; he doesn't like unfamiliar odors even if they are extremely faint.

My crappy old Posturpedic and the ancient dorm beds in college wreaked so much havoc on my spine that I've earned the right to a spanking-new, pristine organic mattress (once I have the money). That's going to be my next major purchase.

I don't think so, no. Not unless it was my brother's or my best friend's and I knew for sure it'd only been used twice or so... Even though I know it's not very eco-friendly, but I'd much rather help the world in some other way.

I have gotten mattresses from friends in the past, but only close friends I know well and whose houses I am familiar with, and it's mainly been economical reasons. I would never EVER buy a used mattress from someone I didn't know, esp. with bedbugs around. Even used bedframes make me nervous.

1- Bedbugs
2- Scabies
3- Dust Mites
4- Molds/Fungi
3- Other Human Detritus

I marked #3...I have bought 2 from friends and my friends bought the mattress new. The were used in my kids rooms.

We had bedbugs once--never again, if I can help it.

If you don't know who slept on it and how many people did you must be a homeless person who can't afford to care or you are just plain uncivilized. I ask then, who raised you?

hell to the NO! gross.

no way, not unless you know and trust the person you're getting it from 150%! i've had bed bugs and they will cost you way more than a new top of the line luxury mattress, please save yourself the stress. i've heard numerous stories of people with bedbugs selling their mattresses and other belongings on craigslist or similar outlets just to make an extra buck or two, stay away!!

I have twice bought mattresses from companies that buy and resell hotel furniture. The mattresses are very high quality and have been sterilized (lord knows how, probably with nasty chemicals), but are perfectly clean and only a year or two old. Mine came out of a Four Seasons Resort....

I find this very question very interesting. Most of my mattresses have been used. My current one was from craigslist, is incredibly comfortable and appears to have been used very little (the guy said it was from their spare room). I was separating from my husband and didn't want to spend much on furniture since we weren't sure if we were going to get back together (we didn't, so I still have it!)

About the bed bugs: I had a friend in New York who had to inform me that he had them since I had visited him recently. Apparently those things can get EVERYWHERE, so while they like beds, they also live in other furniture. He had to get rid of almost all his belongings, including much if his furniture to get rid of them. People also make a good point about hotels, where you sleep on mattresses where many others have slept. In fact, this is how bed bugs got back into the US: they were brought by international travelers. I have a friend with whom I travel a lot, and she always does her special bedbug checks every time we travel!

I bought a high-end mattress and box spring for a great price at Macy's outlet in east LA. It may have been a floor model or a return. They do something to sterilize it and label as reconditioned.

Anyway, it arrived with no spots or smudges, pristinely wrapped in plastic, delivered up the stairs (and trekked the old set away.) No complaints.

Yes. Last year I bought a coveted Ikea Alsarp storage base. The owner had the mattress for sale too, and when I saw that it was the nicer Ikea mattress, still very new and meticulously clean, I took it as well. It was only about 6 months old, and she gave me the receipt to prove it.
I still sprayed it with lysol and enzyme cleaner, let it air out, and then covered it with a few barriers between me and the mattress.
No problems. I sold my old mattress for super cheap on craigslist.
I also once had a vintage sleeper sofa. Again, no problems.

Mattresses that have been donated to the Salvo's here in Australia, they are all previously been sanitised and repackaged, and it can cost about 10 to 20 % of the original price in a very good condition.

I think it's funny that so many people wouldn't buy a used mattress for themselves ... but they would buy one for their guest room. haha - do you feed your guests separate food than you eat too?

I have a job which takes me to new cities frequently - so it makes sense for me to buy used as I might be selling again real soon. I have stayed at numerous hotels and hostels in many countries and well maybe once or twice I had some mysterious bites on my ankles after a stay in an inexpensive hotel - but never an ongoing problem.

I have bought and sold used mattresses - and don't really see how it's different from staying the night at a friends house. Isn't every stranger a friend we have not yet met? In fact I don't think I have had a new bed in the past 20 years - always used, or rented, or staying in an already furnished apartment or hotel.

If the mattress looked old or dirty or if the home it was in was dirty I would think twice - but otherwise I don't see what the big deal is. After a few nights it becomes your bed and you forget that it is used anyway.

I wonder whether new beds might be unhealthy since they might still have the 'new smell' which is made up of chemicals that haven't had a chance to vent yet.

I like the idea mentioned of putting the bed outside in the sunshine.

I can afford a new bed - but why get a cheap new bed when you could have a better quality lightly used one?