Why buy a fire starter when you can make one? These do it yourself firestarters will change your life.
Dryer Lint & Petroleum Jelly
We produce tons of dryer lint on a daily basis and just take it for granted by throwing it away. Dryer lint is fibrous and naturally flammable. When you soak it in Petroleum Jelly it burns longer and slower.
Take a ball of dryer lint and slather some Petroleum Jelly on top. Roll the dryer lint and Petroleum Jelly together in the palm of your hand until the lint is thoroughly soaked. Make little balls with the lint. When you are ready to start a fire just unroll a lint ball and light one of the ends.
Wine Corks
If you are like me and enjoy a glass of wine in the evening then this is a great way to dispose of the corks. Fill a mason jar with corks and isopropyl alcohol, let it soak. Plan a few days ahead so the corks have time to absorb the alcohol. Take jar with you on your camping trip and remove corks as needed.
Camp Smart: Bring a few extra bottles of wine on your camping trip incase you run out of corks. 😉
Dry Herbs
Bits of fresh herbs and citrus peels make for an aromatic firestarter.
What you need:
lemon grass
sage
rosemary
citrus peel
lavender
cinnamon
cloves
twine
news paper
Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature setting and place a single layer of fresh herbs on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and prop the door open with a wooden utensil for air circulation. Don’t set the timer, just let the herbs sit until the oven cools down.
Fold the news paper in half lengthwise and place your desired combination of herbs on top. Then fold the new paper crosswise and roll it up. Tie off either end of the tube with a piece of twine and voila!
Camp Smart: Lemongrass and cloves are known to repel mosquitos.
What do you use for a firestarter? let us know in the comments below.