Old beds turn up in the oddest places – in the bottom of lakes, by the side of the road, in the classified ads of the newspaper. Clearly, people don't know what to do with old mattresses! It estimated that nearly 70% of old beds stay in circulation, handed down like heirlooms to children and other family members. This is especially harmful for children, whose active, developing bodies require the support of a good quality mattress. If the bed is no longer good enough for you, it's not good enough for anybody else; throw it out. Here are two ways to get rid of an old sleep set:

1) Ask the store where you bought your new mattress to pick it up when they deliver the new set. Many retailers today offer this service as part of your purchase price or for a nominal fee.

2) Call your local municipality, sanitation department or garbage collector. They usually have provisions for picking up larger items, but you may need to make arrangements in advance.

If you find the condition of the old mattress embarrassing, do as many others do and send it off with an old, fitted sheet to serve as cover-up!