If you are considering buying a rebuilt mattress, you’ll want to be sure you’re not spending money on a germ and bed-bug infested paradise.
Purchasing a rebuilt mattress can be less expensive than buying a new one, but you want to be sure of what you are getting. Rebuilt mattresses are required to be clean and sanitized and California law prohibits the use of fabrics containing visible soiling or stains in a new or used mattress.
A rebuilt mattress is made by adding filling materials to a used mattress and it is sanitized using an approved method.
Conducting research before you shop for a mattress is the most important way to protect yourself. All mattress retailers must be licensed by the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (BEARHFTI).
You can check the license status by visiting License/Registry Search for Home Furnishings Licensees.
When shopping for a rebuilt mattress:
- Check to be sure the store is licensed with the Bureau.
- Inspect the piece to make sure that both a red and yellow label are attached.
- A red label tells you the mattress is a used product.
- The yellow label tells you the mattress has been sanitized by either dry heat or a chemical disinfectant.
- A brand new mattress will only have a white label attached.
- Ask the salesperson if the rebuilt mattress meets the federal flammability standard. If the salesperson cannot give you a definitive answer, you should consider other options.
The store you purchase a rebuilt mattress from should have their bureau license displayed in a visible location in the store, usually near the front counter, along with other state and local permits.
If you do not spot a posted license, ask the salesperson if the business is licensed by the bureau and ask to see a copy. If the salesperson is unable to show you a copy of a valid license, make sure to contact BEARHFTI and consider other options.
If you have any questions about the cleanliness and safety of a rebuilt mattress you’ve already purchased, please call (916) 999-2041 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or email homeproducts@dca.ca.gov.
