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Make Your Own Fire Starters

1/15/2016

 
Making homemade fire starters with wax on the stove
Would it be too weird if I asked you to save your dryer lint for me? Okay. I agree! But dryer lint is highly flammable making it the perfect base for your own fire starters. Got a wood stove? Know someone who does? Ever want to start a bonfire quickly? These are the easiest and cheapest fire starters you can make. 


Supplies
Supplies you will need to make homemade fire starters
  • An older pot (translation: Don't use your Calphalon one)
  • Paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls and/or wrapping paper rolls
  • An old soup ladle (the cheap plastic ones at Panera Bread are perfect)
  • Several old wax candles
  • Scissors & a tape measure
  • A big soup can (mine measures 7 inches tall & 4 inches across, the small 15 ounce cans are too small)
  • Wax paper
  • All the dryer lint you can acquire
Instructions
1. Fill your pot with water just like you would if you were making pasta. Place your big soup can in the pot. Break up several candles into the can. Melt on medium heat for about 20 minutes until wax is completely melted. (You really don't want the water boiling, just hot enough to slowly melt the wax). 
Cutting up paper rolls to make homemade fire starters
2. While the wax is melting, cut up your paper towel, toilet paper or wrapping paper rolls into sections that measure about 1 1/2 inches. For example, you would cut a toilet paper roll into three pieces making small rounds. As long as you've saved enough dryer lint, you should plan on making at least 60 fire starters. So you'll need to cut up that many rounds.
Cut up paper towels rolls for fire starters
3. Lay out your 60ish rounds on several pieces of wax paper right next to the stove. (You don't want hot wax dripping on your countertop). Jam-pack each round with as much dryer lint as you can stuff in there. The close up shots proved to be disgusting so I left them out! 
Paper roll fire starters with lint inside
4. Drape more wax paper on any counter or stovetop space that hot wax could get spilled on when you are transferring the wax. Another strategy (if the wax is 100% liquified) is to just turn off the stove and hold the can with a pot holder while working with the wax in the next step). 
Tin used to melt wax for fire starters
5.) Scoop one small ladle of melted wax in each round. Let the rounds sit for several hours before storing. It's that easy. And cheap. Not as fun as making brownies, but gets the job done. 

A last tip: Cardboard egg cartons work wonderful as well ~ if you can still find them! Typically, the eggs I buy always seemed to be packed in styrofoam. 



Thanks for sharing with your wood burning, fire starting friends. And as always, thanks for being such wonderful readers!!
52 Comments
Lisa Cress
1/5/2015 12:02:23 am

Just wanted to let you know these are very useful and that you can also use cardboard egg cartons which saves quite a bit of the mess.

Thanks!

Reply
Laura
1/5/2015 01:02:35 am

What a great idea, I love the idea of using cardboard egg cartons. (and there's so versatile in other ways too, especially when you are making crafts with small children =)

Reply
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com link
1/5/2015 12:08:43 am

This post was adorable! You are too! And, I honestly never knew lint could do so much other than be a nuisance. We have loads of it at our house as our washing machine and dryer never seem to stop running. No wood stove here though but a fireplace or two!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:51:28 pm

Laundry is the gift that never stops giving! I know. It's run 24/7 here too.

Reply
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice link
1/5/2015 12:42:38 am

Wow, I love this post, Laura! I never thought of using dryer lint to start a fire, but now that I think about it, I always hear that you shouldn't leave your dryer on when not home because it could start a fire. Such a creative idea!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:51:59 pm

Yes, or if it's lightening out the dryer shouldn't be on!

Reply
Samantha T
1/5/2015 01:00:09 am

My husband is always buying fire starters at Home Depot. We have tons of lint, old candles, and cardboard rolls, now have a good way to put them to use and save a little money in the process.

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:53:26 pm

We used to buy fire starters from Home Depot too. Sometimes we still buy fat wood which is good, but these work the best. My husband loves them because he leaves for work so early and just wants to start the fire quickly and go.

Reply
Pamela link
1/5/2015 03:32:24 am

I love that you are like survivor lady with so many great tips. Gigrl power!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:54:03 pm

Thanks Pam, I don't think I'm ready for Survivor the show though. I prefer my couch still.

Reply
mira link
1/5/2015 03:44:35 am

Happy New Year Laura and I wish you all the best in 2015!
I love how you share not only valuable gardening tips, but these smart and creative household ones! Will try making these soon :)

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:54:38 pm

Thanks so much Mira, I'm thinking my household now, and gardening less for at least a few months.

Reply
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy link
1/5/2015 05:13:25 am

I don't think it is weird to save the lint at all - I am all for making sure there is as little waste as possible. This is such a fantastic tutorial and a great way for people to save money.

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:55:01 pm

I know, waste not, right?!?

Reply
annie@ciaochowbambina link
1/5/2015 06:29:11 am

Wow, Laura....such a creative idea!! And a perfect breakdown of instructions! Thank you, again, for sharing an idea that allows us to recycle what we would otherwise throw away!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:55:26 pm

I try! Thanks Annie.

Reply
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy link
1/5/2015 08:55:38 am

what a cool trick! i've never heard of this before, but sounds ingenious!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:55:50 pm

Thanks Caralyn!

Reply
Ashley link
1/5/2015 10:32:43 am

haha well if you really want our lint I'll give it to you! :)

But seriously, this is so smart. I would have never thought to do this ... such a good idea! Happy Monday!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:56:31 pm

Hmmmmm, maybe I'll take you up on the lint. No matter how much I have, I still always want more.

Reply
Tandy | Lavender and Lime link
1/5/2015 03:59:53 pm

This sounds like fun. I probably use my tumble drier once a year only though :)

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:57:10 pm

I wish. It's 10 degrees where I live so a dryer is a must. But during the summer months, I love hanging my clothes out to dry.

Reply
Erin R.
1/8/2015 09:51:27 am

I always hang my clothes up to dry, too. On hangers in the winter, out on the deck in summer. The dryer just beats the crap out of them. But I'm going to ask my husb to start saving the lint for me so I can try making some grody looking fire starters. Thanks!

Michele @ Two Raspberries link
1/6/2015 05:22:32 pm

SO cool! never heard of these things before but now I really want to try them ;-)

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:57:30 pm

Thanks Michele!

Reply
helen@scrummylane.com link
1/7/2015 08:20:15 am

Another top-class idea, Laura. Roll on summer now so that we can make use of some of these!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:58:02 pm

Can't wait for summer. Freezing here. Below zero "real feel" temps.

Reply
Ami@NaiveCookCooks link
1/7/2015 04:59:00 pm

Gish these look like so much fun!!

Reply
Laura
1/7/2015 11:58:31 pm

Not as fun as cookies, but still.....

Reply
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen link
1/8/2015 04:32:04 am

I love this post and the step by step photos :) One of my favorite parts about being home is the big and cozy fireplace! I love the idea of keeping these handy fire starters nearby and what a fun use for dryer lint :D Hope you're having a great week, Laura!!

Reply
Laura
1/11/2015 09:00:21 am

Sitting by the fireplace right now and loving it!

Reply
Shashi at RunninSrilankan link
1/9/2015 03:19:42 am

These DIY fire starters are simply BRILLIANT! And to think I've been throwing away my dryer lint!!!

Reply
Laura
1/11/2015 09:05:45 am

Waste not....right!

Reply
Amy (Savory Moments) link
1/9/2015 05:04:52 am

My husband saves dryer lint when we are going camping for fire starters. This is a great post - a lot of people don't know about this. Glad to see another Buffalo blogger!! Stay warm :-)

Reply
Laura
1/11/2015 09:01:32 am

Wow, you're from Buffalo. We have great food here, don't we!!

Reply
Linda @ Veganosity link
1/10/2015 09:52:51 am

Brilliant idea! I wonder if this would work with the cotton from cottonwood trees? My son discovered that the cotton is very flammable.

Reply
Laura
1/11/2015 09:01:56 am

That totally sounds like it would work to me.

Reply
Sarah from Soymilk + Honey link
1/11/2015 07:44:30 am

Love this idea! When I was growing up we used to make a similar fire starter with paper muffin wrappers, sawdust, and wax. I always loved getting to light them!

Reply
Laura
1/11/2015 09:01:03 am

Great idea! Thanks for chiming in.

Reply
Bill
1/12/2015 02:54:45 am

Great use of lint. We have a fireplace and now we have a great way to start them.

Reply
Gingi Freeman link
1/14/2015 07:54:15 am

OMG, I kid you not, I was JUST telling my husband there has to be SOMETHING I can do with the dryer lint I keep throwing away!! He sugested knit a sweater, so I just moved on.. haha... great idea!! <3 - www.domesticgeekgirl.com

Reply
kate link
2/3/2015 06:49:43 am

I do this too. I've made fire starters for presents as well for friends that don't mind receiving my old dryer lint.

Reply
Kari Peters link
1/14/2016 08:09:35 pm

This is such a fabulous idea! We do a lot of backpacking and camping, so I really should make some of these to get ready for summer adventures!

Reply
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy link
1/15/2016 07:42:52 am

I never knew that about dryer lint. What a fab way to not waste anything. I always think about food waste, but don't think about the other things that I could be saving.

Reply
Michaell | Foodscape link
1/15/2016 07:08:59 pm

I love this post! I love creative ways of reusing things that are otherwise waste. Lint saving on the way! So great to see your beautiful face :)

Reply
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop link
1/17/2016 09:44:32 am

We make these, but we use egg cartons in stead of the paper rolls. They are great for getting a fire going!

Reply
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg link
1/18/2016 07:32:24 am

This is a wonderful DIY project. Thank you for sharing. It's really creative and a great way to use up items in the house that would otherwise be thrown away. :)

Reply
demeter | beaming baker link
4/14/2016 09:55:21 am

No, Laura, I will not save my dryer lint for you! J/k, you can have all of it. ;) Who knew with just a few common household items, you could make such crafty stuff? Now, I usually avoid fire starters because... scary. lol. But, super cool to keep these tips in mind. Thanks again for sharing another informative post. :)

Reply
Misty
3/18/2018 10:52:44 pm

My dryer lint is typically half, or better, dog fur. I wonder if it would be too stinky. Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to give it whirl for camping.

Reply
Rick
6/3/2018 11:21:52 pm

Great tips. I'm gong to throw a few in my truck for emergencies.

Reply
Angie link
7/26/2018 11:45:57 am

I know this is an old post but these are great tips for a DIY fire starters. We've been looking for new ideas to put into our camping gear. Just thought we'd share that a great added tip is that we also vacuum seal our fire starter supplies to make sure they don't get wet!
Thanks for a great post!

Reply
Angie link
7/26/2018 11:48:06 am

I know this is an old post but these are great tips for a DIY fire starters. We've been looking for new ideas to put into our camping gear. Just thought we'd share that a great camping tip (that we use) is to vacuum seal your fire starter supplies to make sure they don't get wet!
Thanks for a great post!

Reply



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    Hi, I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!
    Laura Sproull

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