What To Do With An Old Mattress When Moving In Seattle?

What to Do With Your Old Mattress When You’re Moving in Seattle

You’re packing boxes, scheduling movers, changing your address — and then there’s the mattress. It doesn’t fit in the new place, it’s ten years old, or you’re upgrading and don’t want to haul the old one across town.

Seattle has rules about mattress disposal (you can’t just leave it on the curb), but you have several good options depending on the condition of your mattress and how much time you have before your move.

Your Options, Ranked by Effort

1. Have a Junk Removal Service Pick It Up

This is the fastest option, especially if you’re already dealing with moving-day chaos. Junk B Gone picks up mattresses across the Seattle area — often same-day. We handle the lifting, loading, and disposal. You don’t have to wrap it, drag it downstairs, or figure out where to take it.

Most mattresses we pick up get recycled through Second Spark, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Springs get recycled as scrap metal, foam gets repurposed, and fabric gets processed separately. About 90% of a mattress can be broken down and reused.

2. Donate It

If your mattress is in decent shape — no stains, no sagging, no damage — donation is a solid option. Several Seattle-area organizations accept gently used mattresses:

• Goodwill and Salvation Army (check location-specific policies)
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Local shelters and transitional housing programs

Call ahead. Most organizations won’t accept mattresses with stains or structural damage, and some require scheduling a pickup window.

3. Sell or Give It Away Online

Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp all work for this. List it as free or at a low price, include clear photos, and be honest about the condition. “Free mattress, queen, you pick up” moves fast in Seattle.

The catch: you need someone to come get it before your move-out date. If the timing doesn’t work, you’re back to square one.

4. Take It to a Transfer Station

King County transfer stations accept mattresses. There’s usually a disposal fee (around $20-$30 depending on the location). You’ll need a vehicle that can transport a full-size mattress, and you’ll need to load and unload it yourself.

What NOT to Do With Your Old Mattress

• Don’t leave it on the curb. Seattle doesn’t offer bulk item curbside pickup for mattresses. Leaving one out is considered illegal dumping and can result in a fine.
• Don’t put it in a dumpster. Most residential dumpsters and commercial dumpsters don’t accept mattresses. Even if it fits, it’ll likely get rejected at the landfill.
• Don’t wait until moving day. If you know the mattress isn’t coming with you, schedule removal at least a few days before your move. Moving day is stressful enough.

Tips for Mattress Disposal During a Move

• Plan two weeks ahead. Donation pickups, marketplace sales, and removal services all go smoother with a little lead time.
• Check your mattress retailer. If you’re buying a new mattress, many retailers (Mattress Firm, Costco delivery, etc.) will haul away the old one at delivery. Ask when you order.
• Bundle other items. If you’re already getting rid of the mattress, this is a good time to clear out other things you don’t want to move — old furniture, broken appliances, boxes of stuff that’s been in the closet for years. A single junk removal visit can handle all of it.
• Check your lease. Some apartment complexes in Seattle have specific move-out requirements for mattress disposal. Violating them could cost you part of your deposit.