Yeah, yeah, we all know we’ve got to clean our tumble dryer lint filters. The question is, what to do with all the fluff that gathers there? Look no further for the answer!
Your dryer lint is fit for more than just the bin; there’s a use for it. In fact, we have nine uses for it. Each time you collect it, store that lint safely in a jar and you’ve got yourself a versatile material you can use all-around your home.
Stuff a Homemade Pin Cushion
If you’re crafty, this is the oh-sew-easy tip for you. A little bundle of dryer lint can be turned into stuffing for a pin cushion by sewing it inside a fabric scrap. Homemade pin cushions make a great gift for any friend or relative who sews.
Lights Fires and Barbecues
Putting lots of lighter fluid on the BBQ can affect the taste of your food. Beef burger with a side of chemicals, anyone? We thought not. Use your dryer lint instead! Insert it into a cardboard toilet roll centre for a really easy firelighter.
Soak Up Accidental Spills
Had an oil leak in your shed or knocked over a glass of water in the kitchen? Don’t waste reams of kitchen towel. Use something you were going to throw away to clean the spillage - your dryer lint. Your wallet and the planet will thank you.
Leave In Your Pet's Cage
Small furry pets like hamsters or gerbils will love lint for their bedding. Just make sure not to use strongly perfumed washing powders, as these could irritate your pet’s skin. Also, don’t put lint in a cage with a heater, as it’s quite flammable.
Pack Your Breakable Items
If you’re moving house, or even just storing your best china away, packing materials can be really expensive. Lint, on the other hand, is free and it’ll do the job of making sure your glass and china are free of chips and cracks just as well.
Make Homemade Clay
Mix equal parts of water and PVA glue with a splash of washing up liquid. Then add in dryer lint gradually until you have a clay consistency. Mould it, let it dry, and hey presto - you’ve turned your waste product into art.
Protect Your Garden Plants
You’ll probably be using your tumble dryer the most in the wintertime, so use the lint you collect to protect your plants in the cold weather. Cover the soil around your shrubs with lint to help stop frost damage and prevent weed growth.
Make a Gardening Knee Cushion
Gardeners, you may have green fingers, but you won’t have grass-stained knees with a lint-stuffed cushion to kneel on as you tend to your plants. If you don’t garden, you can still use your outdoor cushion to sit on and soak up some sun.
Keep Your Parcels Safe
Shipping something breakable? You never know how violently it will be thrown around once it leaves your hands, even if you’ve written “Fragile” on the box. Make sure it’s not broken in transit by packing your parcel with lovely soft lint.
Now we’ve just got one last important piece of advice: If your tumble dryer filter has a hole or rip in it, replace it immediately. Too much lint building up inside your dryer can get to the heating element and start a fire!
Oh, and before you go, why not also make sure you’re using your tumble dryer as efficiently as possible? Tumble dryer balls are a super handy accessory that helps to quickly dry your laundry in a time-saving and energy-efficient manner, so grab a pack today and take your drying game to the next level!