Every dryer load leaves a gray, fluffy layer on the lint screen, and most of it goes straight into the trash. Some households save it instead, because that fuzz has a few surprising uses, starting with one that comes in handy now that fireplace season is here. Here’s what dryer lint is good for, and the one place it should never end up.
In short
- Dryer lint is highly flammable, which makes it a classic homemade fire starter.
- It can also fill draft stoppers, line plant pots and cushion small fragile items.
- Only lint from natural fabrics, dried without dryer sheets, belongs in the compost.
- Don’t leave it out for birds: rain breaks it down and nests can collapse.
What it’s for
House Digest lists six ways to reuse it. The best known is the fire starter, because lint “is highly flammable.”
- Fire starters: pack loose lint into toilet paper tubes, coat the ends with petroleum jelly, and wrap them in wax paper. Store them dry and away from heat.
- Draft stoppers: fill a tube sock firmly with lint and tie the ends. House Digest cites Department of Energy estimates that reducing drafts can save 5% to 30% on energy each year. The downside: it takes a lot of lint, and the stopper is light.
- Pot liners: pack lint up the sides of a pot before adding soil. It holds the soil in place and insulates roots in cold months.
- Packing: use it as the inner layer around mugs, glasses or candles, but not for large, fragile items like mirrors.
- Weed barrier and compost: pull the weeds, spread a thin layer of lint and cover it with mulch, or sprinkle it thinly on the compost pile, but only with the right lint (see below).
Why the lint screen matters
Saving lint starts with cleaning the screen, and that matters for more than crafts. In a National Fire Protection Association fact sheet, “failure to clean” is the leading cause of home dryer and washer fires, at 29%. Dust, fiber or lint is the item most often ignited first. In 2006 alone, the fact sheet counts an estimated 17,700 reported home fires involving dryers or washing machines. House Digest says experts urge cleaning the lint trap after every load and deep cleaning the dryer vent twice a year.
The limit
Not all lint is equal. House Digest warns that dryer sheets and fabric softener can make it unsafe for compost and gardens. Lint from synthetic fabrics can add microplastics, so skip it in compost and in pots for herbs or vegetables. For the compost bin, stick to lint from 100% cotton, linen or wool.
And don’t put it out for birds in spring. House Digest explains that “rain changes the structure of lint,” so a nest built with it can fall apart, and the lint may carry residue from detergent and fabric softener.
Speaking of the dryer, here’s what laundry experts toss in instead of dryer sheets. For the fireplace, see how often a chimney really needs sweeping, and for drafts, what actually helps with cold floors.
A lint screen, a few toilet paper tubes, a fire that lights faster. That’s the trick.
