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Composting under/near the dryer exhaust vent?

 
Posts: 10
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has tried putting a compost pile under or near their dryer exhaust vents? It would seem to keep the pile warmer than any other spot in the yard.

Has anyone tried this and had success? Any drawbacks (fire!)?

Lemme know what you think...
 
steward
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Location: Currently in Lake Stevens, WA. Home in Spokane
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Probably a good 'last shot' use of that heat. Depending on winter weather, it could help keep the decomposing 'critters' active a little longer. It could cause the pile to dry out too much. Add moisture if that is the case. Your pile should always be moist...like a wrung out sponge.
 
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A very good place for composting but make sure it won't caught fire and burn the whole house down! Just check it always!
 
S. Jones
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Ok, I think I'll give it a go. My other compost pile is seemingly inactive and I think I might have started it too late in the year to get any aerobic activity started. I'll post pics and my progress for the new pile as I go along.

Cheers
 
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Location: Portlandish, Oregon
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I guess you could... But the lint might contain unnatural fibers. I would just add more nitrogen to the core of your pile and more carbon to the outside. Unless your in a zone less than 6 you should be fine
 
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S. Jones, I'd love to know how this turned out for you. I found myself asking the same question today when I noticed it would only take a few feet of repositioning to get our tumbler near our dryer vent.

A friend of mine cautioned against using chemical dryer sheets as they might infuse the compose with nasty vaporized chemicals. I suppose even the 7th Generation sheets are not exactly formulated with this kind of use in mind.
 
John Polk
steward
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I would not use the dryer sheets. They do, indeed contain some nasty chemicals.

I have been told that they are a prohibited item on USN Aircraft Carriers:
The chemicals in them neutralize the flame retardant in flight suits, etc.

A good rule of thumb to use when buying laundry detergents is:
Synthetic detergents were developed to launder synthetic fabrics.

 
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Location: Southern New England, seaside, avg yearly rainfall 41.91 in, zone 6b
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I am also curious about this, I've wondered before. The warm air would not be as drying as most warm air because it's got the moisture from the clothes in it.

We don't wear much in the way of synthetic fibers, nor do we use dryer sheets. I think dryer sheets are one of those clever scams where industry tricks us into thinking we need to keep buying a product forever. We also try to use the clothesline most of the time, so it might not make a big difference.
 
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