Jan 08 2009
What do you do with your dryer lint?
I was looking around on cafemom.com when I stumbled across a post that even while being disturbingly odd really fits me perfect. The post was about things you could do with dryer lint. That’s right dryer lint. I have to admit I’m one of those people that has lint piled all over my laundry room just because I don’t have a trash can in there and I don’t feel like taking it all the way three steps into the next room to throw it away (smile).
Ok so before you have the Clean House team come to clean my home it’s not really that bad but I do seem to store dryer lint in a storage bin for whatever reason. Of course now instead of having my fiance fuss about the lint that is just taking up room I can tell him to back off that I have plans for it!
Tip 1
Save the dryer lint. Keep a small box or bag near your dryer for storing the lint until it is reused. Tip 2
Reuse lint to start fires. Stuff an empty paper egg cartons with lint. Stuff it full and close the lid. Make a hole in each “egg” at the bottom of the carton. Pour melted candle wax in each hole. Let this dry until the wax is hard (2-3 hours). You can use these for kindling, as you would newspaper, but they work much better.
Tip 3
Reuse lint as mulch. If you wear natural fibers such cotton and linen, dryer lint makes a great mulch. Just make a donut of lint around your tiny plant. Don’t get it right against the plant, as mulch should not touch the stem of the plant. This promotes fungus and root rot. You can use lint alone or in combination with other materials reused for mulch.
Tip 4
Reuse lint as clay. You can actually make clay out of dryer lint. Put 1 1/2 C of dryer lint in a sauce pan. Add 1 C water. Add 1/2 C of flour and stir until smooth. Add 2 drops of vegetable oil or essential oils. Cook over low heat stirring constantly until it forms peak and has a solid consistency. Place on newspaper to cool. You may use it for molding as you would any clay then allow to dry for 3 days. You can even paint it!
Now seriously how cool is that? I don’t know how well these work but I will be trying it out to see.
