Homemade Fire Starters - the lint method

So, let me start off by stating that this was something that we learned how to do in Girl Scouts what feels like a lifetime ago.  Our troop went camping a million times and before every campout, our family always made these fire starters.  This was the best friend of our young troup.  I have been teased about using these when starting a fire by some friends of Corry but I think that they are genius. 

You don't have to be a Girl Scout to find use for these fire starters.  I have seen these on multiple "prepper" blogs as well for good items to have in your Bug Out Bag that don't take up too much space and stay good so long as you are not in extreme heat.  We always keep these in our camper for our camping trips.  My husband loves a fire even if it is 500 degrees outside and so these come in super handy when they are in the mood for a more spontaneous fire. 

You will need:

an empty egg carton
dryer lint - there had to be a good use for it, right? 
candles - use cheap ones preferably with no scent
a heat source
something to melt your candles in - we use an old aluminum can


Melt your candles in your aluminum can over your heat source until they are fully melted.  Be careful when handling this liquid.  This is your warning that melted candle wax is hot. 

                                     

While that is melting, take your dryer lint and stuff it into your empty egg cartons.  My husband puts plastic wrap down on the counter in case any wax drips out of the cartons.  You can omit, but it makes for easier clean up. 

                                    

Pour the melted candle wax over the dryer lint.

                                     

Allow the wax to cool.  This is what the finished product will look like.  From here, you cut each 'egg' out and you have 12-18 fire starters depending on the size of your egg carton.  This is an excellent way to recycle both the lint and the egg cartons. 

                                     

Depending upon how ready your wood is to burn, you can use 1-3 of these every time that you would like to start a fire.  Just light one end of the cardboard from the egg carton that doesn't have wax on it and throw into the fire. 

Enjoy!

-Sara