Dryer Lint Worm Bin Wrap-Up

Dryer Lint Worm Bin

It’s been a couple of months since my last ‘Dryer Lint Worm Bin’ update and I decided today that the experiment has basically run its course, so this will be the “wrap-up” post.

It has been an interesting experiment, although, as is often the case, I feel like I need to do some more experimentation with dryer lint as a worm bin bedding in order to feel comfortable making any firm conclusions.

In general, the population of worms in this tiny bin seems to have done very well. I don’t have much free time these days so I can’t do an actual population assessment, but all looks great based on the number of worms I saw in the material today. This is especially impressive given how little I added to the bin in the way of food, and how anaerobic I allowed it to become.

Speaking of which, it is also hard to say for sure how quickly this bedding material will break down in comparison to typical bedding materials, such as shredded cardboard, simply because there was not enough oxygenation going on throughout most of the bin. What I would like (and am tentatively planning) to do is incorporate some dryer lint into a future worm composting system with much greater air flow. I think the BOM-6000 system I’ll be using for my upcoming “Four Worm Reproduction Experiment” (Part Deux) might be the perfect one to test out.

Worms in Dryer Lint

Even the wet, stinky undecomposed lint seemed to be an attractive habitat for the worms (in the dryer lint bin) so I’m optimistic that this material will work well in a better quality worm composting environment.

I’d be interested to hear back from anyone else who might have tried dryer lint and/or pet hair etc in their worm composting systems, and as per usual, welcome any and all comments about the topic in general.

8)

Previous Dryer Lint Vermicomposting Posts (oldest to newest)
Composting Dryer Lint
Composting Dryer Lint – Update #1
Dryer Lint Worm Bin
Dryer Lint Worm Bin – Update
Dryer Lint Worm Bin – Update #2
Dryer Lint Worm Bin – Update #3
Dryer Lint Worm Bin – Update #4

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Comments

    • Nic
    • December 1, 2009

    i just did my science fair project on population growth w/ the type of food. dog hair was the only bin population that increased, and by 50 something grams compared to the starting weight. whenever i found it in the bin, there were always several worms imbeded in it. but w/ my science fair project, i put them in top soil, not a true vermicompost bin. i have them all in one bin and i still always find alot of worms imbeded into it.

    • Bentley
    • December 2, 2009

    Hi Nic,
    Thanks for sharing that info – really interesting stuff! I’d be curious to know if anyone else has had a similar experience with pet hair.
    8)

    • Jeff O
    • December 6, 2009

    I have been adding dryer lint for several months. I started when I read an article about someone who added a pair of shredded corduroy pants and when they finally harvested the bin, all that was left was a zipper, lol.

    I have a bunch of old T shirts that I was planning on using as rags, but now, maybe I should shred a couple and try it out.

    Its funny when you’re starting out, like me, 10mos now, the back of your mind starts looking at almost everything a little different and how it might help your worms.

    • Bentley
    • December 11, 2009

    Sorry for delay, Jeff!
    You shared something really insightful there:
    “the back of your mind starts looking at almost everything a little different and how it might help your worms”

    So true!!!! (but it’s certainly not limited only to when you are starting out)
    8)

    • yoder
    • December 14, 2009

    oh man oh man… I gotta call the local salons and ask them if they’ll hook up a bunch of hair. I can imagine the worms would love the airspaces hair would provide. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before. Do you think there could be any problems with products on the hair? I know hair breaks down pretty slowly in a compost heap, so maybe I’ll run it through the “cooker” before delivering it to my wormies.
    say, Bentley, I made a couple sweet little raised “hugelkultur” beds, with build-in worm trenches. I’ll shoot you the photos sooner or later.
    Best wishes

    • Bentley
    • December 16, 2009

    Good question Yoder. You might be a bit cautious with the hair as-is. Perhaps washing it out thoroughly would be the key. I have heard of people composting hair, but I must say this is the first time I’ve heard of anyone “cooking” hair! haha
    Please DO keep us posted, Yoder – and send along any photos you want to share!
    8)

    • DachsieMama13034
    • March 8, 2013

    I clip my only longhaired dachshund down to the hide in March and again in June, then allow her to grow the fur back out for winter. I shall save it this year and add it to the worm bin I hope to have up and crawling this spring! 😉 I just cut hubby’s hair a couple days ago, but didn’t think to save it for this. However, all is not lost – it’s still in the bathroom trash can! Yippee!!!

    • Mister R
    • September 28, 2017

    I’m new at raising worms. I have a bin started and have been setting up my “suppliers”. When I was at a hair solon, a thought came to mind. Should the cut hair be washed, to remove all chemicals, before giving it to the worms? I welcome any input that any, worm “rancher”, might have, to make me a successful “rancher” and fisherman/gardener. I anxiously await all replies, both, from here and Above.

    I remain, forever His,
    Mister R.

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