Why shops refuse it
Mattresses need a fire label and to be in genuinely clean condition; many shops don't take them at all for hygiene reasons.
What to do instead
Councils collect mattresses as bulky waste, and some retailers take the old one away when delivering a new one.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
Acorns Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Used mattresses”
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Can't accept
Barnardo's
Covers all mattresses, including cot mattresses.
Their wording
“Mattresses including cot mattresses”
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Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
New items can be sold; see also cots-and-mattresses for cot/crib/pram mattresses.
Their wording
“Used pillows, duvets, mattresses”
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Can't accept
DEBRA
Specifically stained mattresses.
Their wording
“Stained mattresses”
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Can't accept
Dogs Trust
Their wording
“duvets, bedding, mattresses, electric blankets”
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Can't accept
FARA Charity Shops
Their wording
“mattresses and electric blankets”
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Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Their wording
“Used duvets and mattresses”
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Can't accept
Marie Curie
broad category rule
No specific furniture items singled out; the page lists furniture as currently unaccepted.
Their wording
“Furniture.”
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Can't accept
PDSA
broad category rule
Temporary suspension of furniture donations (framed as current, not permanent)
Their wording
“For the time being, we won't be able to accept furniture and have no collections available.”
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Can't accept
Phyllis Tuckwell
Their wording
“Mattresses”
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Can't accept
Traid
broad category rule
No furniture or other bulky items — Traid shops handle clothing and textiles only.
Their wording
“duvets, pillows, furniture or other bulky items”
- Can't accept Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
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Can't accept
Woodgreen Pets Charity
broad category rule
Furniture and other household items are not currently accepted because their collection service is not running.
Their wording
“our collection service is not currently running”
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Check first
British Red Cross
Only accepted in new, unused condition.
Their wording
“Mattresses, pillows and quilts that are not in new, unused, condition”
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Check first
Overgate Hospice
Only accepted in pristine condition with fire label attached.
Their wording
“Mattresses in poor condition”
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Check first
Princess Alice Hospice
Only accepted if brand new with fire labels attached
Their wording
“Must be brand new. Must have Fire Labels.”
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Check first
Scope
broad category rule
Furniture (sofas, bedding, dining tables and chairs) is only accepted at the Wakefield and Grimsby shops.
Their wording
“Our Wakefield and Grimsby shops can also accept: Furniture: sofas, bedding, dining tables and chairs.”
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Check first
Shelter
Accepted, but only at the dedicated Furniture Shops, not general shops.
Their wording
“furniture (everything from beds, sofas, mattresses, chests of drawers, tables etc.)”
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Check first
St Christopher's Hospice
Only accepted in excellent condition, for sanitary reasons
Their wording
“excellent condition for sanitary reasons”
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Check first
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
Mattresses and bed bases must carry a permanent BS 7177 label.
Their wording
“permanent labels must follow BS 7177 specifications”
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Check first
Sue Ryder
Soiled or dirty mattresses are not accepted; clean ones are fine.
Their wording
“soiled or dirty mattresses”
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Check first
Wales Air Ambulance
Individual mattresses only accepted as part of a complete bed with a frame; soiled or dirty mattresses not accepted
Their wording
“Individual mattresses without a bed frame”
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Check first
YMCA (England & Wales)
Must have a fire label attached, like sofas.
Their wording
“furniture like sofas and mattresses must have fire labels”
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Accepted
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Explicitly accepted as long as they are in good condition — unusual among charities.
Their wording
“we will accept mattresses as long as they are in good condition”
Not mentioned in 20 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned British Heart Foundation
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Cornwall Hospice Care
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned Dorothy House
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned LOROS Hospice
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned Samaritans
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shaw Trust
- Not mentioned St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned St Peter's Hospice
- Not mentioned The Children's Trust
- Not mentioned Willen Hospice