Ashley Amber/instructables.com
DCL
While many of us instinctively know the eco-merits of line drying our clothes, for many reasons we still use clothes dryers most of the time. Do I? Guilty. In the summer I love drying my clothes outside, but this time of year, defrosting my freshly washed garments is not on my green to-do list. I do find that shrinkable items get naturally, if not stiffly dried just fine next to my woodstove.
Do I feel guilty about not drying all my family's clothes au natural? I did, until I read Pablo's Treehugger post this week highlighting the energy differences and greenhouse gas emissions associated with using electric clothes dryer vs. natural gas models. Natural gas wins (Whew, I use a natural gas dryer). But, he is quick to remind us: "Nothing is as efficient as line drying."
Watch Video: Greener Laundry
What is dryer lint?
Dryer lint is composed of loose fibers and debris from clothes that have been run through the dryer. Because the clothes are of various colors, and of different types of cloth, the dryer lint will have a varied composition, which generally includes plant and synthetic fibers with occasional animal fibers.
What to do with dryer lint? Make paper!
Instructables has a tutorial for making paper out of lint. The author, Ashley Amber provides the step-by-step instructions to make natural (clean!) paper using dryer lint, warm water, wood frames (you can use two wood picture frames) or cardboard, window screening, scissors to cut the screening, staple gun or hammer and nails, tub, and a blender to mix it all up in. To get varying color hues into your paper, Amber suggests washing a red towel in with your washer and dryer. I'll add, this paper makes beautiful gift tags, unique clothing tags and gift wrap.
Here are 5 more uses for dryer lint and don't forget to compost.
