You should clean your dryer lint from the lint trap after every use. A lint-covered lint filter reduces air movement, compromising the dryer’s ability to get to work on your wet clothes.
But what do you do with all that lint, then?
I heard a creative lint reuse idea the other day I found rather timely.
Stuff toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes with lint for firestarters or kindling.
(This use, of course, speaks to the flammability of dryer lint — another reason to clean your lint trap!)
I’m looking for more ways to reuse the full wastebasket of lint I have in my laundry room. Any ideas?
October 4, 2010 at 9:19 am
IN 4TH GRADE, OUR AWESOME TEACHER SAVED ALL HER DRYER LINT & WE MADE HOMEMADE PAPER FOR FATHERS DAY CARDS.
IT TURNED OUT GREAT BECAUSE SHE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB SEPERATING HER LOADS BY COLOR.
October 5, 2010 at 10:44 am
Making paper is actually a really good idea…but all my paper would be gray.
October 4, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I’ve always wondered if it could be made into felt – maybe carpet underlay?
October 5, 2010 at 10:45 am
You’d think it’d have to be way compacted to go under carpet…that’s an interesting suggestion.
October 4, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Love it! I save all my dryer lint for this very purpose. This summer we went camping for a week and it was rainy! Good thing I brought my handy lint filled toilet paper tubes with us to help start our campfire. It burns for a long time. It is scary if you think about it! Great tip Julie!
October 5, 2010 at 10:45 am
That is kind of scary. Now I know why my dad was so adamant about keeping the filter clean.
October 5, 2010 at 11:57 am
just trash it. And remember – check your dryer lint filter frequently!
October 5, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Seriously? You post a suggestion to “trash it” on a post about creative reuse?
October 5, 2010 at 4:03 pm
My partner is a firm believer that dryer lint is recyclable. It is only irritating on Monday’s when I have to fish it back out of the recycle bin before putting it on the curb for pick-up.
October 13, 2010 at 8:07 am
That’s hilarious. What in dryer lint could possibly be conventionally recyclable? Wishful thinking, I suppose.
October 5, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Depending on your level of craftiness you can create artwork from your dryer lint (as demonstrated on HGTV, of course!) http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/dryer-lint-art/index.html
October 13, 2010 at 8:08 am
I think I should hold a dryer lint art contest.