Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Tumble dryer water on Houseplants ......

gazwilson194gazwilson194 Posts: 34
in Problem solving
I've tried googling to see if Condenser dryer water is okay on houseplants. RHS says no problem but loads of other sources say its a no no because of chemical residue. Has anyone any experience of this either way?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm inclined to feel it isn't suitable @gazwilson194. I added mine to the pond for a short while, but then when I thought about it, I didn't like the idea that there could be 'stuff' in it, so I stopped.
    They say that the fluff is a bad idea for nesting material, for the same reasons, and that was another thing I thought could be utilised rather than being chucked out. A shame, because it's so lovely and soft!
    It's one of those things that might be worth experimenting with though, especially if you have a few plants that are the same, or similar in their needs.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Would it not have chemicals in it from the detergent? It definitely would if you use fabric softener. It would also be full of microplastics. My instinct is to say no but maybe someone knows the science behind it. 
  • gazwilson194gazwilson194 Posts: 34
    That's my worry, although people have been advised for years that grey water from washing dishes etc is fine to put on gardens ...hence my confusion ...
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Well I’ve just googled it and the majority of places say it’s fine. 


    I also ended up on Money Saving Expert forum and saw this:


  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    I would test it on one and see what happens…. 
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Not sure where this chemical residue would be coming from. Your tumble drier is operating like a mini rainmaking machine. It cools and condenses water vapour driven off your wet clothes by heat just like the Sun evapourating water from the oceans to form rain when it cools and condenses. Essentially you are making your own soft rainwater.
    There may be some volatile components of fabric softener like perfume carried over  which you should be able to detect by smell. Would these harm plants? I doubt it given that a lot of perfume is plant based in the first place.
    The condensed vapour is unlikely to contain significant amounts of microplastics either as these are not evapourated then condensed unless your tumble drier is operating at several hundred degrees.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I was going to say exactly the same as @steephill but (s)he has done it more eloquently than I can.
    I really don't understand how 'chemicals' and micro-plastics can get into the water and would, therefore, say it is safe to use. 
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think there'd be much in the way of residue either. Surely the water evaporates out of the clothes and leaves any detergent residue etc behind. It's not like the water from the washing machine. Maybe more if you use those dryer softener sheets (probably more volatile than the liquid that you add to the rinse water).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    When we had the drought in 76,  we channelled our water from the washing machine to a water butt and watered the grass with it,   I’ve never seen such lush grass since,  it was almost emerald green,  and the plants did beautifully on it. 
    It was only soap powders then.  I suppose it was soda in it? 
    Often done it since with the bath water,  containing bubble bath and shower gel. A much deeper green to the leaves. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I've used bathwater (and washing up water) on the garden with no ill effects but I'm not sure I'd use it on houseplants, in case the detergent etc. might build up.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Sign In or Register to comment.