On edge, strapped, and bagged
A mattress on its face eats the floor and still slides into the door. Stand it on edge, against the wall or against another mattress, and strap it to the truck's tie-downs. A torn cover sheds fluff and foam that you will be picking out of the tracks later. Bag it before it goes in. The bag is trash at the site if the site takes it with the mattress. It is not a liner for the whole floor. Call and ask whether mattresses are accepted, whether there is a limit, and whether a rental truck may bring them. Some sites treat mattresses as their own item. Dumpmapper can show candidate facilities. A pin is not a promise that this site wants a box of bedding.
Do not cover the lights or the plate
A mattress that hangs out the back to make room is a bad fit. If it will not sit inside with the door closed, it does not fit this truck. Do not let it cover the plate or the lamps, and do not strap it to the roof unless the rental company allows that and you still meet the height you gave the site. Most dump runs should keep the mattress in the box. Take the feet or the base off a foundation only if you can do it without smashing it into nails across the floor. A magnet sweep at the site is worth it if the frame came apart. Box springs with exposed staples belong strapped, not loose.
Unload without launching it
Open the door from the side. A mattress will lean out if the strap came loose. Two people walk it down the ramp. Nobody stands below it. Do not fling it off the back because the stall is short. If the site wants mattresses in a different pile from bags, load so the mattress comes off first. Sweep fluff at the disposal site. Ordinary dry debris goes in the bay, not into a storm drain and not into the rental lot. Look at the ceiling during a flashlight pass. A wet mattress on edge can stain it. Tell the counter if you see a new stain. Do not wipe the ceiling with a solvent.
Before you go
- Ask the site whether mattresses are accepted and if they are a separate item.
- Stand them on edge, strap them, and bag a torn one before loading.
- Keep the door, the plate, and the lights clear.
- Walk them down with two people and sweep the fluff at the site.
Laying mattresses flat and unstrapped because the box looked wide enough.
Questions people ask
Does a mattress bag replace straps?
No. The bag holds the shed. The straps hold the mattress. Use both on a torn one. The bag goes to the site with the mattress if they accept it that way. It should not be left in the truck as a floor cover for the next load.
What if the mattress is wet or moldy?
Tell the site before you haul it. A soaked mattress is heavier and can stain the box. Do not leave it in the closed truck overnight. If the site refuses it, take it back home. Do not dump it beside the rental office.
Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.