HOFF: Real Uses for Dryer Lintby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 05 Jan 2007 06:11 PM
In this case, we are talking about dryer lint. C'mon, you know you thought about it. As you were cleaning the lint filter in the dryer, you held up the soft, feathery substance and thought to yourself, I'm sure I could use this for something. No? Well, then that is what i am here for, to put these odd thoughts in your head. And without further ado, I present to you...(drumroll) real uses for dryer lint. One: Make it into paper. Believe it or not, dryer lint makes a very nice paper. Place torn scraps of paper and some lint into a blender with water and blend for a few minutes until it is soft and slushy. This is called slurry in the paper making world. Pour the slurry mix into a paper making frame that is placed in a pan of water or a sink of water. You can by these frames or kits in the craft store, or make one yourself, using a photo frame and a piece of window screen material. Lift out the frame, carefully flip the paper out and let dry. You can use the paper for all sorts of things from letters to gift wrap to scrapbooking. Two: Make some lint clay. For this project, you will need about two cups of firmly packed lint (gosh I love that phrase). In a large bowl, mix the lint, 1/3 cup of warm water, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid (clay will take on the color of the dishwashing liquid, so you might want to use a clear brand), 6 tablespoons of white glue, and some food coloring and/or glitter if desired. Mix and knead until you have a nice even clay. Do you have any dryer lint recipes to share? Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments  Mary Ann Romans (26876) 06 Jan 2007 04:46 AMIt is amazing what people can do isn't it? Ibet there is a reuse for almost anything. missmcmac (15) 25 Mar 2008 07:19 PMDryer lint is great for composting! We also use it to line the bottom of planters to retain moisture.  lilbitmommy (45) 04 Jun 2008 11:12 PMWhen using the lint to start fires, does she mix it with wax? I had heard of that but never tried it. I do have a box of lint that goes back about 40 loads of laundry though. Guess I knew it would serve some purpose one day. I am interested in using it for a fire-starter, but the paper sounds real original too. jwilson3 (5) 03 Mar 2009 11:23 AMDryer lint can also be used for homemade stuffed animals or small pillows. CobbleHillJacksons (5) 13 Apr 2009 04:49 PMTo make fire starters, we take an empty egg carton, pack each section tightly with dryer lint and then pour melted wax to cover each section. We melt old candles that we pick up for free or really cheap at garage sales or from family and friends. To light a fire, we just break off one or two sections at a time. These are the best fire starters I've ever used! We use them for camping and in our wood stove. Community Tags dryer lint, lint, paper, reuse Discuss this article
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Proving that something can always be made of nothing, this Hall of Frugal Fame (HOFF) is dedicated to those brave souls who, no matter how small, worn or seemingly useless an item is, find a way to reuse it in a new way.
