If you have a dryer at home, you most likely know how important it is to remove the lint from the filter that accumulates over time, preventing the appliance from working efficiently.
But what you perhaps don’t know is that these accumulations of lint from clothes and linen can be reused in various ways, proving to be particularly valuable. Let’s discover its many uses.
Because the dryer is full of lint
Some clothes such as sweaters and sweatshirts, but also terry towels, tend to release a lot of lint when dried.
Tumble dryers are equipped with a special filter that eliminates most of this lint, but it is important to clean it regularly to ensure the appliance works properly.
Can lint formation be avoided? The answer is no, the only thing that can be done is to remove it from the filter after each drying and instead of throwing it away, try to recycle it taking inspiration from our ideas.
Fluff to absorb oil
Fluff has absorbent properties and is therefore perfect for absorbing oil that has fallen on the floor or other oily liquids.
Stuffing for puppets
The fluff that accumulates in the filter is clean and can therefore be used instead of synthetic wadding in the padding of various soft toys and puppets.
Fluff to light the fire
The fluff can also be used to light the fire in the fireplace or stove: just insert it into a used toilet paper roll, close both openings and throw it into the fire when lighting it.
Fluff to protect plants from the cold
If you live in an area with a fairly dry climate, you could reuse the fluff to protect potted plants from the cold, using it instead of normal mulch.
Modeling clay for children
The fluff can be used to make a children’s modeling clay similar to papier-mâché. Instead of wetting the newspaper, in this case you need to wet the fluff and add some vinyl glue until you obtain a soft and mouldable compound, which can be used for your creations. Then you need to let it harden.
Compost
Just for those who garden, you can enrich the compost. Add fluff, but only that from natural fiber fabrics. Spread it on the soil, water and rake.
Avoid adding fluff derived from synthetic fabrics: it can take years to degrade and release microplastics into the soil.
Protection for fragile objects
If you have to move, remember that fluff can be used to protect any fragile objects from dangerous impacts while moving.
Next time you clean your dryer filter, think twice before throwing away the lint: with a little creativity it can become an amazing resource!
Warning: not all fluff is suitable for recycling. If it comes from synthetic clothing or fabrics treated with chemical softeners, it is best not to reuse it. In these cases, dispose of it in unsorted waste.
