What kind of recycling uses do you think that there could be for lint from a clothes dryer?

Question

What's your idea? Maybe we could turn it into combustable fuel :o)

Answer 1

I tease my kids and keep some in a pot, I tell them it's Daddys belly button fluff, lol

Answer 2

I use leftover wax from old candles, dryer lint and cardboard egg cartons to make fire starters. Just melt the wax & pour it over the lint in the cartons. They work great!

Answer 3

When in boy scouts we used lint as a tinder for starting fires with a flintlock.

But now I have gone lintless... instead of using a drier I either dry in a clothes line outside, or indoors we use a dehumidifier in the bottom of a closet, with the clothes hung above it.

The dehumidifier uses less power to dry the clothes, and there is no lint. It never over dries the clothing, so they do not have hard set wrinkles, but because they are not tumbled they also do not lose wrinkles very well either,

So we have chosen to reduce rather than recycle.

Answer 4

I think you should be careful of using it as fuel, especially if you use drier sheets or the lint contains man-made fabrics.

I also suspect that it wouldn't make a good fiber for spinning into yarn because the individual lint pieces would be too short to make them adhere to each other in a strong yarn.

The lint might, however make good paper. Especially if you're drying a load of white towels or other light coloured things.

Answer 5

hi nick,

i've heard birds and animals use it in their nests and dens if you leave it in small amounts in dense bushes,  trees or foundation  plantings (and great art could be made while arranging it!)

Cheers-

Dewi W

Answer 6

makes good firestarter

Answer 7

Just a cautionary note -- lint is no longer suggested for bird use because it soaks up so much moisture. Just think of those poor birds lying in soggy lint & you'll get the picture.

But it is GREAT for compost.

Answer 8

Make felt. I saw old Hugh F-W of River Cottage make felt from scrag ends of sheeps wool. It might be suitable. Bet you could find how to do it on the web somewhere...!??

Answer 9

Hmmm, has anyone actually  looked closely at dryer lint???  If you have a pet (I have a cat), it will be loaded with pet hair.  So, birds may not like it much.

Also, the fibers are very tiny, as soon as you pull it apart the fibers drift through the air, not good for Allergics.  

I also read in Heloise a while back ( someone asked the same question), that it is very allergic.

I would think if you put it in a pillowcase (even doubled) it would filter through the fabric quickly.

I compost mine and I'd use it to make paper or start a fire if I needed it.

Otherwise, it's junk.

.

Answer 10

Birds love to use dryer lint as part of their nest building material.

Answer 11

I have heard someone talk about using lint for papier mache or you could save some up til spring & put some in a "onion" net bag to hang for the birds to use when building nests.

Answer 12

I've seen small bits used to help start fires.  Also have seen it used as "paper mache".

Answer 13

I really don't see burning ANYTHING as a form of recycling.  Burning destroys the material.  There are companies that turn waste fabrics into building insulation, just as they turn waste wood into cellulose insulation; that is a better form of recycling for lint.

Answer 14

Fire-starter, like catching a spark with a flint and steel, or from a fire-drill.

Answer 15

Felt! Felt is made of dense layers of fabric. I wonder if lint would work?

My buddy made some paper with it, but its pretty crumbly stuff, even with mixed with glues, etc.

Answer 16

You can recycle your dryer lint in your composter, if you have one.  Also, if you live anywhere near birds would nest, they will use it to help build their homes!!!!!!!

Answer 17

pillow stuffing

Answer 18

Make a t-shirt with it

Answer 19

Throw it out your window in smallish chunks. Birdies could use it to line their nests =)

Answer 20

Compost. It acts as an aerator and moisture attractor.

Answer 21

Hi Nick,

It's really great for the compost heap, just break it up a bit, stir it right in.

Also, it makes great "fire starters" for camping or fireplaces. Just take some, douse it with torch oil. Makes a good light.

Answer 22

It could be collected, cleaned and sterilised and used for dressings on wounds.

Answer 23

Actually....as weird as this may seem....there is a recipe to make a kind of clay out of dryer lint usine glue.....I have actually saved my lint to make this recipe for our after school program.  You may want to google the recipe and see if it is something you could use.  Otherwise, do a good deed for a local school or daycare and print off the recipe.  Take it to them with a bag of dryer lint.....they may think it odd at first but trust me, when they see how much fun it is they will be very happy.  Here is a link for a recipe....

http://maranathalife.com/science/sc12-98...

Good luck!!

Answer 24

LOL

My cats like to bat it around if I drop it on  the floor, so I say, "Pet toys!"

Answer 25

Hello

1.Fill up cotton in that and used as a Pillow.

2.Used for cleaning Purpose

[e-mail]

Answer 26

I know someone who used it for quilt batting

Answer 27

Chewing gum.

Answer 28

If you could clean it and spin it, you could make fabric with it cuz it came from that.  I think you could burn it because it is extremely flamible but you put this under green living so it sounds like you are for the environment and I don't think lint will burn very clean so that isn't worth it.  Maybe you could bury it and it would compost because of its soft fluffy material.

Answer 29

earplugs for when you have to hear about the manmade global warming conspiracy.

No, in all seriousness use it as fire starter.  Interesting question.

Answer 30

I think you could mix the lint with glue, put it in a mold  of your choice  (first cover mold with plastic wrap) let it dry. Sand it if needed, paint it . You will have a one of a kind item.

Answer 31

i dont know,, but dont you be smoking it--you hear me?