Would you sleep on a smoky mattress?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

So we bought this used Denver Mattress off of Craigslist. They are really good mattresses and we thought it was a good deal.

The ad said:

Firm Queen Size Denver Mattress

$250

2 and half years old

Comes from non-smoking no pets house

Lightly used as spare in guest room

The guy on the phone said he would deliver it and that his daughters only slept on it when they came in from college.

When we got the mattress there was no smoke smell on it. Within a day the cigarette smell started to permeate the room. Within 2-3 days it was really bad. We suspect we were swindled and he had masked it with something like decenter. We tried everything to get the smoke smell out. The Stanley Steamer guys said they could only deodorize it and clean it but couldn't get the smell out. We used baking soda and let it sit then vacuumed it up, we bought stuff off the internet that goes inside the mattress and dissolves the tar. We tried lemon juice and fresh air and sunshine. Nothing worked permanently. Finally we put it outside in the garage.

Now we have this mattress out there and we're wondering what to do with it next.

Edited March 28, 2010 by Cleocatra

[Jenn! 918]

Yuck! Yeah, I'd rather buy a cheapo mattress for $200 rather than a quality used one. I suppose you could try to resell it, but I'd disclose the smell. Maybe someone else won't care and you could get a little back on it.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Waking myself up to the deep inhalation of smoke when my face we buried in the mattress was pretty gross. I didn't want to sleep on it and all those cheapo mattresses were looking pretty good.

[Bernie C 24]

I think you have only one option left. Its gauranteed to work but you must be very careful. BURN IT

That guy must have been a real jerk. Its those kinds of people that need a good slap up side the head!

[And_Sam 44]

Oh wow that would really burn me up!!!!

If you have the mattress sitting outside in the sun that should help get the smell out of it. Also I would buy a huge bottle of Febreeze and empty it out on it!!

My husband smokes but outside only!!! Eww I can imagine waking up smelling that!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

We tried natures deodorizer; sunshine and fresh air. We didn't try febreeze though because we read online that like many of the other things we tried it was a temporary fix. Cute Queen Sheba kitty.

[trillium13 84]

A mattress is one thing I would never buy used. Never ever ever.

I did lay down once on a hotel mattress only to discover it was soaked with urine.

[ScottThuy 140]

Oh wow that would really burn me up!!!!

If you have the mattress sitting outside in the sun that should help get the smell out of it. Also I would buy a huge bottle of Febreeze and empty it out on it!!

My husband smokes but outside only!!! Eww I can imagine waking up smelling that!

That wont work.. my ex MIL had a smokey matress that I would not allow in my home when she moved in with us.. I tried everything/// left it out in the sun.. sprayed everything possible on it and it still stunk.. I used several bottles of fabreeze too.. spring fresh smoke...

[Sc0tt28 26]

Aren't there some "truth in advertising" laws out there or something? Should be able to take them to small claims court. Maybe not.

Just my rant because I would sleep on the floor before I would sleep on a matress that smelled like smoke.

[And_Sam 44]

A mattress is one thing I would never buy used. Never ever ever.

I did lay down once on a hotel mattress only to discover it was soaked with urine.

Ewww!!! Now that is disgusting!!!!

Cute Queen Sheba kitty.

Thanks...she adopted me!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

A mattress is one thing I would never buy used. Never ever ever.

I did lay down once on a hotel mattress only to discover it was soaked with urine.

Ah gross!

That wont work.. my ex MIL had a smokey matress that I would not allow in my home when she moved in with us.. I tried everything/// left it out in the sun.. sprayed everything possible on it and it still stunk.. I used several bottles of fabreeze too.. spring fresh smoke...

It's a good thing you didn't let it into the house. I noticed how the smoky mattress permeated the room and stunk up my clothes and everything. It was really awful and nothing worked.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

1. no, I'd buy new only (btw, I never buy innerspring mattresses only futons); I did once "inherit" a used futon (full-size thin, typical of W-M) from a colleague who "roomed" with me for two months (and who was a smoker--but as primary leaseholder, I did not allow him to smoke in the apartment which prevented the f@g-smell)
2. Get rid of it ASAP (see point 3)
3. try selling it (disclose that it has f@g-smell) for 1 fortnight, after that point donate it in Planet-Aid bin

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Aren't there some "truth in advertising" laws out there or something? Should be able to take them to small claims court. Maybe not.

Just my rant because I would sleep on the floor before I would sleep on a matress that smelled like smoke.

I think yes but I can't remember the exact details about how it applies to Craigslist. From my understanding it's like buying at a garage sale. You get what you get.

1. no, I'd buy new only (btw, I never buy innerspring mattresses only futons); I did once "inherit" a used futon (full-size thin, typical of W-M) from a colleague who "roomed" with me for two months (and who was a smoker--but as primary leaseholder, I did not allow him to smoke in the apartment which prevented the f@g-smell)
2. Get rid of it ASAP (see point 3)
3. try selling it (disclose that it has f@g-smell) for 1 fortnight, after that point donate it in Planet-Aid bin

Good thing you didn't let them smoke in there. I wonder if his daughters smoked in there or what?

[Amby 490]

that sucks! hope you're able to get a new mattress soon!

[DanielParul 50]

No, No, I'd try to recover some of my money by reselling it