Too embarrassed by mattress to throw it out!

[WingsOnMyBoots]

We've only had our mattress for a bout three years but we really need to replace it. We can either take to the tip of pay the council to collect it. I don't really mind which way but my dilemma is I am so ashamed of it I daren't throw it out! For the past three years I've been having extremely heavy periods and often while I sleep it's leaked onto the mattress. I'm fairly certain that any methods to remove blood stains won't remove them entirely but if anyone knows how I can get rid of these or somehow cover them up I would be very grateful. Sorry if this has grossed anyone out.

lol! I'm feeling better already!!

Could you cut the material from the worst bits out?

If not I second a Tracy Emin type art work with a few thrown cans of paint!

I rolled and tied mine when I replaced our recently.

We seem to have a load of dumped mattresses around the canals and green spaces here and I’m always amazed by how new they look. Mine are a fucking disgrace each time I come to replace them

We have to cover anything fabric that we put out for the concil with something water proof so it doesn't get wet/heavy . Just tape bin bags round it .

just take it to the tip, they will have seen worse.

And see a GP about your heavy periods!! I was like you and suffered horrendous bleeding. There are things which can be done ranging from tranexamic acid to cut blood loss through to Mirena, ablation or even hysterectomy.

Do not continue to suffer.

Just dribble bleach over the stains, and other parts so it isn’t too obvious. Maybe do it in the garden. You don’t want to ruin your carpet as well!

Oops, great minds Rapunzel

Black spraypraint all over it. Cheap fix. then tip it.

Having just read about people who worry about sending kids to school with yoghurt pots as they hurt the environment......to buy a new sheet from Amazon for £6 and put that out in the rubbish to cover a stain in a mattress..... mumsnet is crazy today !!!

Bleach or just put a fitted sheet on it

Another option would be to play it loud and proud and really give the neighbours/bin men something to talk about..

Paint a yellow outline of a person around the blood stain and mark it "Crime Scene"

I'd be embarrassed too. Don't blame you for trying to find a solution.

Surely it hasn't soaked through the whole mattress? Leave it outside clean side up.

No additional suggestions re old mattress but PLEASE buy a waterproof mattress protector for the new mattress. Available everywhere including M&S!

When we had to get rid of ds1s old mattress I had the same problem, not only was it covered in sweat stains but cats had peed on it after he moved out so I chucked it out back until we could get it to tip.

It then got waterlogged as I stupidly didn't wrap it and it didn't smell too good either. So I stripped it down put all fabric and wadding in bin bags and Dh took the springs to the recycling centre.

Get DH to take it to the tip. But a waterproof mattress protector in future! Why would you not have one?!

When my mum bought her new mattress, the company delivering it took away her old one as part of the service. At the time of paying in store, she was given a zip up mattress protector to wrap the old mattress in, due to the company's health and safety rules. They obviously knew what state mattresses could get in to, and in the interests of safeguarding their workers, asked customers to put their old mattresses into these fitted bags before collection.

Can you buy something like that cheaply, and leave the mattress out for the council? And maybe buy a mattress protector for the new one - not just good for spills, but brilliant in the fight against bed bugs, etc. You can wash them at high temperatures to make sure they are really clean, and they keep your mattress perfect for MUCH longer!

I have cut one up before now to take to the tip but it was a pain as had to cut through the springs... it was a child's single though

As a passer by I literally would not notice the state of a mattress that had been left out for the council. Of all the things I worry about and notice this would not even register. I would probably think "I hope they're not leaving that there" but that's it.

However, it obviously bothers you so yanbu, and I like the idea of rolling it up and duct taping it - it'll take up less room and that's the least amount of extra "stuff" needed to cover it.

Ours had handles on each end, so I folded it in half and tied it up with cable ties so the most disgraceful side was obscured. I do turn mattresses though and had managed to bleed on both sides. The council uplift team actually arrived as I was heading off to work and cheerily threw it in the van, I am sure they'd seen much worse! The new mattress is wearing a protector.

If it's a double, put it into an old king size duvet cover and sew it up.

Put it outside a neighbour's house instead?

Make sure she is a MNetter and search furiously for 'mattress' that day and the next to see if she is outraged.

I’d just take it to the tip. I guarantee you nobody there will even notice what condition it’s in, unless your local dump provides some sort of posh valet service that mine doesn’t ? Surely you just park beside the appropriate container, heave it in and leave? Nobody is going to be inspecting it.

Any left over paint in your shed?

Then email the council saying my two year old (neice, or friends child) spilt paint on a mattress, how much will it cost for it to be collected?