Five Ways to Recycle Sawdust

Like most do-it-yourselfers, you've probably had the occasion of creating large piles of sawdust in your workshop while tackling a woodworking project. Besides being a nuisance in the eyes and mouth, sawdust has several little-known, but highly effective, uses around the house. From weed killing to cleaning up spills, sawdust is a handyman's most useful leftover. So the next time you create some sawdust, think twice before sweeping it up and trashing it.

Cheaper than Roundup
Many people don't know that sawdust is a natural weed killer, particularly dust from walnut and cedar wood varieties. The sawdust not only suppresses weeds similar to mulch or other cover products, but as it decays it creates soil conditions that are not conducive to plant life - even weeds. Carefully sweep sawdust into crevices you don't want weeds or grass to grow, such as expansion joints in concrete or in between stepping stones in your backyard.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Around the holiday season a small pile of sawdust can be mixed with some glue and a little white paint and used to coat your favorite holiday crafts to simulate snow. Add some glitter for a special holiday sparkle. This also works particularly well when creating a snowy ground for a small nativity scene or similar Christmas display.

Homemade Fire Starting Cakes
Have you ever used those soap-like bricks of highly flammable gel to get a fire going? With sawdust a few other home staples you can make your own fire starter cakes. First, melt some wax in a large Teflon pot - candle wax will do the trick. Begin slowly adding sawdust until the mixture becomes less pliable. Pour up the hot wax/sawdust mixture in some non-stick muffin or cupcake pans and allow them to cool. Slide out the "cake" mixtures and voila, homemade fire starters.

Super Absorbent Sawdust
Sawdust has a fantastic absorbency and soaks up just about any home spill, from motor oil to a bucket of paint. Stash some in your garage and throw it out over a spill if you kick over that can of motor oil. Push it around the spill with an old mop and watch it soak up the spillage.

Trade Chains for Sawdust
This tip is particularly relevant for drivers that must battle snow and ice on their daily commutes. Sprinkling some sawdust in a snowy rut can help you tires gain traction and prevent the snow and ice underneath from growing further compacted. As a side benefit, it is biodegradable so you are not hurting the environment by throwing out some synthetic, commercial mixture.