Starting an outdoor fire can be tricky when the weather surprises you and when you don’t have the right material. Do you want to know an easy way to start a campfire in any condition? How to make homemade fire starters?
I remember how I struggled to start it when it was raining on my camping trip. You don’t have to go through the same as I will show you how to make fire starters with dryer lint and others that anyone can make.
These are great when being outdoors and wanting to warm yourself and cook a meal. What can you use as a fire starter besides a dryer lint?
Check the material to make fire starters with dryer lint and follow the next step by step procedures to make your own fire starters that will make you a campfire burning in no time.
Homemade fire starters with dryer lint
Most people get rid of the lint as a way of maintaining their dryers in the best condition but did you know that lint is great for starting a fire?
It is the fabric that sheds off your clothes when you dry them in a dryer. Clothes made of natural fibers such as wool and cotton generate a lot of lint so look in your dryer machine.
Combined with other household items it makes a waterproof fire starter that will serve you well when you are in the great outdoors and want to start a fire. It is a multipurpose material to use.
You probably use dry grass and barks for starting it. However, it could get difficult to use them when the material is wet due to rain or snow.
The homemade fire starters with lint are waterproof and this way, you can use them to start a campfire even when it’s raining. Let’s get started and find out how do you make homemade fire starters.
Things that you will need
How do you make a waterproof fire starter? Here is a DIY firestarter from candles recipe:
- Dryer lint
- An empty carton of eggs
- Old candle stubs
- Dental floss or a string
- A pair of scissors
How to make fire starters with dryer lint and egg cartons?
How do you make fire starters from egg cartons? This is one of the best easy fire starters that you should take on an outdoor trip. Follow this procedure to make candle wax fire starters.
Step 1: Cut the wax into small pieces
You will have to slice the wax into small pieces to easily melt it later on.
Step 2: Put the lint into the egg carton
The next thing that you will have to do is to fill the egg cartons with the dryer lint. Fill the cups to the top to prolong the burning time when you light them.
Step 3: Cut the cup sections and fold them up
Now that the cups are full, you will have to cut them up and fold them. Use the pair of scissors to cut the cups and then fold the ends of each cup at the top.
Step 4: Tie the cups with the dental floss
Tie the cup sections with dental floss or any other piece of thread to secure the cup and to provide additional length to hold on to.
Step 5: Melt the wax
After tying the cups, the next thing that you will have to do is melt the candles that you had cut into smaller pieces.
The wax, in this case, seals the fire starter and makes it waterproof. You should make sure that you have enough wax for all your cup sections.
Place the wax into a jar or aluminum can and put it in a pot of boiling water. Make sure that the water in the pot is not too high so that the jar with the candle pieces won’t tip over.
When the water boils, the candle will melt.
Step 6: Lower the cups with the dryer lint into the melted wax
With the wax still hot, lower the cups with dryer lint into the jar with the wax. Hold the cups by the string you had tied them with and make sure that they are fully submerged to seal them properly.
You may have to use a utensil such as a fork to submerge the cups into the wax jar effectively.
Step 7: Let them dry
Place the fire starters dipped in wax on a paper towel to allow them to dry. You can pour the remaining wax on them to coat them properly. They will dry effectively in about two hours.
How do you make fire starters with toilet paper rolls and dryer lint?
It is simple to make fire starters with dryer lint and toilet paper rolls. Here is how to make these easy campfire starters.
Step #1
Take some toilet paper rolls or rolls from paper hand towels. Grab some lint from the drying machine and get some wax.
Step #2
Fill the rolls with dryer lint and melt the wax in the old pot.
Step #3
When you have wax melted, go ahead and pour it slowly into the rolls. Make sure that the lint is soaked with wax.
Step #4
Leave the rolls to dry.
Step #5
Flip the rolls to the other side and repeat the procedure so the lint will be soaked with wax from both sides. The rolls made like these will burn around 25-30 minutes.
Step #6
Place them in plastic bags or somewhere where the humidity won’t get them so they will be ready for usage.
Is it safe to use dryer lint as fire starter?
Dryer lint is a material that is highly flammable and will help you to set your fire safely.
With the combination of an egg carton and wax, it will be a perfect starter for fire, especially in the wet weather when twigs and other wood aren’t so flammable because of moisture.
How do you make fire starters without wax?
How to make a dryer lint fire starter with no wax? There is a very simple way to make DIY fire starters with lint even if you don’t have wax at home. What do you need to have? Get dryer lint, used cooking oil, and a glass jar.
Step #1
Fill the jars with the lint in layers.
Step #2
Pour the oil into the jar so it will soak all the lint in the jar. Grab a stick or use a finger and press the lint so it will soak with oil effectively.
Pro tip: Keep it closed in a jar when taking it to the campsite and use a small piece of the oiled lint to make the fire going.
Don’t forget that the lint will start to burn fast but you need to have other wood prepared so it won’t just burn out.
How do you start a fire with lint?
This is how to set a campfire successfully with a dryer lint campfire starter that you have prepared at home.
Step #1
First, find a place that is appropriate and safe to set up a fire. Don’t start it too close to materials that are flammable (tent for example).
Step #2
Go ahead and take a walk to the woods to gather some twigs, sticks, and branches that will serve as one layer of the fire.
Pro tip: If you find the material wet due to the rain, go to the areas that are dry inside (cave, covered areas, etc.) and try to find some dry material there.
Step #3
It’s time to get that fire going. Place some of the lint where you want to set the fire. Tear the ball over the area so it will look like a nest.
Put twigs on it, and then branches and logs on. Make sure that you do it slowly, so the structure won’t demolish.
Step #4
Take a lighter, matches, or another lighting starter and light the lint.
Can you use Vaseline to start a fire?
Vaseline is used for making the best homemade fire starters and will help you to start your fire quickly. How to use it? Get a jar of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) and cotton balls. Put some Vaseline on your hands, grab a cotton ball and roll it in your hands.
You can also use a dryer lint if you want and make a dryer lint and vaseline fire starter. When they have entirely soaked up close them in a jar or container so they will be ready for usage.
The ball will burn for about 4 minutes, enough time that you put some twigs and other wood on. This is a good cotton ball wax fire starter that will make your task easier.
Is sawdust good for starting fires?
Yes, dry sawdust is a good material for starting a fire. It is a simple DIY campfire starter that will work. The wood peels will fire up easily and quickly so I recommend them when you want to set a fire outdoors.
Homemade fire starters with sawdust recipe
If you don’t have a dryer machine at home but you still want to make homemade fire starters you can use sawdust. This is the cardboard fire starter recipe on how to make fire starters with sawdust.
Step #1
First, gather some sawdust and prepare some paper muffin cups with a tray or old cardboard egg cartons and paraffin wax.
Step #2
Put some of the sawdust into the cups. Melt the wax in a broiler and pour it over the sawdust to the top of the cups.
Step #3
Leave the wax to harden. Your fire starters are ready to use.
What is a good natural fire starter?
All of the mentioned items are good fire starter materials that you should try out. It’s better to be prepared than sorry so taking some time to make them will be worthwhile when you want to be comfortable at a campsite.
What kind of wax do you use to make fire starters?
You can use paraffin wax or soy wax to make fire starters at home. However, if you want your starter to last longer I suggest that you get the soy wax. It will burn 2-3 times longer than paraffin wax because it has lower oxygen requirements to burn.
Soy wax doesn’t need any hardeners or additives to melt at a low temperature.
Does cardboard make good fire starter?
Cardboard burns quickly and can be used as a fire starter but it won’t last long. However, if you will use it to make a fire you will release chemicals that are often hidden in the ink printed on the boxes like cereals.
How long do fire starters last?
The time depends on the used materials. Generally, natural fire starters last from 5-25 minutes. If you use a cotton fire starter from cotton pads, wax, and wax paper your fire starter will last roughly 5 minutes. If you make a waterproof dryer lint fire starter you will see it burning for about 10 minutes or more. The ones with dryer lint, toilet paper rolls, and wax can last up to 25 minutes so they are considered as long burning fire starters.
Summary
Dry grass and twigs are typical materials for starting a fire and usually work well but it will be difficult to get them to light up when they are wet.
Fire is crucial when being outdoors for some time so make sure you have waterproof fire starters.
Use my step-by-step procedure to make a fire starter with dryer lint and other household items that won’t disappoint you even if it rains. It is an easy and non-expensive way to successfully start an outdoor fire when you need it.
