Homemade Fire Starters

If you’re planning on camping, having a bonfire, or roasting s’mores this summer then you must try these homemade fire starters! They are expensive to make, store well, and work like a charm. You will only need three simple ingredients that you most likely already have laying around the house. Cheap. Easy. Effective. You’re sure to enjoy a fire this summer using these homemade fire starters.

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If You Play in the Fire You Will Wet the Bed

I have always been a bit of a pyro. I can remember helping start fires in the fireplace as a kid. I loved going out to help carry the logs because it made me feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder. Many times a fire meant there would be hot dogs to be roasted and if we were lucky marshmallows too. Mama used to joke that she’s never seen a fire in her fireplace. All she can ever see are the backs of head and butts.

During one particular ice storm, we lost power for several days. My mom lit a fire to keep the house warm. She had us get our sleeping bags and camp out in the living room because our bedrooms were still quite cold. Although I’m sure it was stressful for her as a responsible adult, I thought it was great fun as a kid. It was like camping indoors from my perspective. S’mores and all! I was living out the Long Winter just like Laura Ingalls did. When the power returned, I was a bit disappointed because it meant that the fun was over.

Whenever there was a fire to be built, I was sure to be involved. I perfected building a little nest to start the fire and slowly adding larger sticks. The problem was that I couldn’t bear to leave the fire alone. My parents called me a little firebug. There were warnings that if you played in the fire you would wet the bed that night. It didn’t stop me though.

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It was Only a Little Fire

Soon after getting married, a tree fell on our house. We lived in the city and had only a small fire pit that we were allowed to use for burning. I spent many days burning this giant tree in my tiny fire pit. One afternoon, I decided that I needed to make some fire starters. And that’s when things went downhill.

I gathered the supplies and with confidence started melting my wax. Everything was going fine until it was time to pour the wax over the lint. I lifted the hot bowl and started pouring wax. It ran down the side of the bowl and onto the electric stove top. Flames shot up from the hot burner and I jumped back, spilling more wax in the process. That caused more flames. I decided that I had enough fire starters at that point.

With the smoke alarm beeping, I quickly ran to open the windows and turn on the attic fan. More than anything I needed the smell and smoke to leave before my husband got home. After much scraping and scrubbing, I got the wax off the stove, counters, and floor. As for the smell, it lingered. My husband got home and asked what happened. All I managed to say was, “It was only a little fire,” with a shrug. We promptly purchased a fire extinguisher and I was banned from doing projects when he wasn’t home. Unfortunately that wasn’t the last time I had “just a little fire” incident in the kitchen.

Good news though, the homemade fire starters were very effective.

Homemade Fire Starters Recipe

Supplies

Cardboard Egg Carton

Wax

Dryer Lint

Double Boiler or pot and glass bowl

Pipette (optional)

Instructions

First you will need to melt the wax. I use paraffin wax because it is cheap, but any wax will do. You can use a double boiler or just place a glass bowl on top of a pot of water.
While the wax melts, stuff dryer lint into the cardboard egg carton. Be sure to really fill each hole. The more lint you use the better the homemade fire starter will work.
Then pour the melted wax over the lint. I suggest using a pipette or measuring cup to avoid setting the kitchen on fire. Covering the workspace with parchment paper isn’t a bad idea either. It will make cleaning up much easier in case of a spill.
Then allow the wax to cool before closing the lid of the egg carton for storage.

Using Homemade Fire Starters

When it is time to start a fire, cut or ripe one cup off of the carton of homemade fire starters. Then place the fire starter in the middle of some small twigs. Light the carton on fire. When the twigs start to catch fire, add larger sticks. Continue to add larger fuel as the smaller pieces catch fire until you are burning logs.

For a bonfire, it works better to stick the homemade fire starter in as far as you can reach and then light it. It may take more than one fire starter to get a large pile going.