Re-using water

Hi all,
not entirely sure if this is the right place for this post, but hey-ho!! I have one of those condenser tumble driers that collects the water in the bottom. Can I use this water on my garden? I use that 2 in 1 liquid for washing, would this extracted water be ok to use directly on my plants, or should I empty it into the water butt for a bit first to get rid of most of the chemicals??? :confused:

 

i'd tend to not until you find out more
i know bath water is ok but i would check
further before using washer waste there may
be harmful chemicals.

 

Hi, Windy!

Presumably your washing machine rinses the clothes before you put 'em in the dryer, so the liquid in them should be plain water. And water can be purified by heating it until it turns to steam (which is how your dryer dries the clothes)and then condensing the steam - making distilled water. So the stuff left in your dryer should be fine....
Only possible fly in the ointment is if there's a chemical residue left after rinsing which is volatile enough to vaporise in the dryer and then condense with the water.

Why not try it on a cheapo pot plant first? And then only use it on ornamentals if it seems OK.

 

Thanks guys
Will try it out on an unwanted Busy Lizzie first...fingers crossed it works because it seems a shame to waste it. The flaming dryer hasn't stopped for the last few days and must have produced a gallon :eek: :rolleyes: :D

 

**UPDATE**
Well so far said Busy Lizzie seems unscathed by the dryer water - yay!!! Although I'm going to keep going with it just in case it takes a while to show????
Do you think diluting it by putting it in the water butt might be a good idea????? I must confess to having a taste of it and it tasted a tiny bit scented :confused:

 

Hi, Windy!

Sounds as if there's a bit of chemical residue from a perfuming agent in the fabric softener bit of the detergent mix - they're designed to be volatile - you wouldn't smell 'em otherwise!
Personally, therefore, I'd rather not put it in the water butt if you use it for the veggies. Could you part fill a watering can with the saved water and top up from the butt? That way you'd dilute it and also keep it out of your food chain!! Bit of a faff, though!!!

 

Windy
I have been using water from my tumble dryer on my houseplants for over a year now-The only effect it has had was to make my ginger plant flower for the first time!!

 

Hi Windy I was told by the salesman who sold me my tumbly that I could use the water on my plants so they should be ok

 

Oh goody!!! Thanks guys...will err on the side of caution though and dilute it for the veggies...dunno if I fancy Spring Flower flavoured spuds :D

 

On the topic of water recycling, I cook rather a lot of kippers (yes I stink) and I bet theres a lot of vitamins left in the water, should I put it on my plants?

 

If you do that Lottie you will have the neighbours thinking there's something fishy going on :D

 

haha they're too far away to be bothered with such like. Well I tried it and there seems to be no residual smell.