Belly Button Lint

Images: Possible dryer lint collection piece and an extra large clothes dryer.

One of my favorite composting materials is dryer lint. Yes, I was kidding about the belly button lint. . . If you don't already save the dryer lint for hobbies, such as paper making, now is the time to start!

Keep a container in your laundry room and after each dryer load, collect the lint and deposit in the container. I have a new flower bed outside one window and simply throw the lint outside after each load.

It serves three purposes: It decomposes in the soil, does not end up in the trash AND it is a great nesting material for birds. Typically, birds prefer dryer lint that doesn't have excessive amounts of fragrant water softeners or dryer sheets used.

There is always the additional benefit that a dryer works better and cheaper if the lint collector is cleaned after each load - saving money and wear and tear on the machine. It cuts down on the risk of dryer fires from a collection of lint in the exhaust hose.

The lint can simply be tossed on the top of the soil or if you don't like the look, it can be immediately tilled into the soil. It will seldom blow around because it absorbs moisture quickly.

I don't recommend putting it directly against plant trunks and stems as it makes too good of a mouse nest in the winter. If mice house directly against bark, they tend to chew on the plant when winter gets really cold and food is scarce.

I tried using an onion sack for my lint and hanging it from the clothesline for the birds to take in the spring but my birds refused. When placed randomly on the ground, they would sometimes clean it up in one day.

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Since brushing pets is somewhat messy in the winter, I find if I toss the pet hair in the same way as dryer lint, it also provides the same benefits to the soil and birds.

I've seen many a nest lined in a smooth cushion of pet hair. They do seem to like the dog hair better than cat hair but that might be a "scent of predator" issue. Still, the nutrients in both pet and human hair are beneficial to the soil.

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Find a perfect container for your dryer lint and pet hair: Mesh onion sacks, coffee cans, decorative tins, antique clothespin holder, or let your imagination find a choice. It's another little way we can help use what we once sent to the landfill.