How to Make DIY FireStarters: The Best Way to Stay Warm This Winter

It’s that time of year again when the temperature starts to drop and we all have to start thinking about how to stay warm. One of the best ways to do this is by using fire starters to help get your fireplace or woodstove going. In this blog post, we will show you how to make your own DIY firestarters! Not only are they easy to make, but they are also a lot cheaper than buying them from the store.

The best diy firestarter is one made of things you have around your house!! To make our starters we save toilet paper roll, dryer lint and candle wax. Simply stuff the toilet paper roll full of lint. Pour the melted wax over both ends of the toilet paper roll and you have a fire starter. These will last about 15-20 minutes, which is more than enough time to get your fire started!!

Another bonus is you can make a bunch of these at one time and have enough for an entire year!!

Want to know more about diy firestarters; why to use them, other ways to make them, and some tips for making it fun for both you and your kiddos…. Keep reading.

Why use Firestarters?

There are a few reasons why you should use fire starters when starting a fire. First of all, they help to get the fire going faster, which means that you will be able to stay warm sooner. Second of all, using fire starters can help reduce the amount of smoke that is produced by the fire. Finally, they can also help to keep the fire burning for a longer period of time.
Once you’ve made some of these fire starters you won’t go back to lighting your fires without them.

This is also a great way to recycle many home products like the ends of candles, egg cartons, and parchment paper. There are many flammable items that can be given a second life in your fire starters!
And it is a great activity for your kiddos to get involved in.

What is the Best Starter Material for a Fire?

There are many different materials that you can use to make your own fire starters. However, not all of them are created equal. The best material to use for a fire starter is something that will catch fire easily and burn for a long time. Some of the best materials to use include:
– Cotton balls
– Dryer lint
– Wax shavings/Old Candle Wax
-Shredded paper
-egg cartons

How do you make a Homemade Fire Starter?

Dryer Lint + Toilet Paper Tube
Everyone has TP tubes lying around just waiting for a use, and they do a great job of containing fire-starting material inside them. You can use any other materials described here to put in the tube, but it’s harder to saturate all the material with wax.

Cut a toilet paper roll in half. Stuff dryer lint into each piece. Pour a little bit of wax onto the dyer lint. Let it dry.

Flip the roll over and pour wax on that end as well.
Pinecones – Second easiest way to start a fire
Using pinecones for firestarters is fun because they are beautiful and make excellent gifts. If you cover them with some wax they will burn longer. If you don’t have any wax just throw in more so that your starter will last a bit longer and have time to light your kindling.

Cardboard Egg Cartons!!
Gather egg cartons, shredded paper, saw dust, or dryer lint, and candle wax.

Stuff the dryer lint, shredded paper, or saw dust into the egg cartons, pour the liquid wax on top until well soaked. When dry cut each section apart and store them in a ziploc bag. If you’re using saw dust, just let it air dry first.

They will burn for 10 minutes and give you plenty of time to get your fire roaring.

Tips for Melting Wax

There are lots of options for wax, and you can pick and choose by what you have on hand. Candle wax, beeswax, and paraffin wax all work great. You can even use melted crayon if you are looking for a use for all those tiny pieces of crayons. Or you can create a mix of these, using candle bits and crayon pieces for a splash of color.

To melt your candle wax, you can use a dedicated pot, or melt it over the fire in a glass container, or in a tin can inside a pot of water.

Tips for Saving Fire Starting Materials

The easiest way to start saving fire starting materials is to get your whole family involved. Set up a place for collect, show it and explain the goal to your kiddos and get collecting.

For toilet paper roll we have a bag that hangs on our basement door. The kids know to put empty toilet paper rolls in that bag. So when they finish a roll or if they see one in the trash can they take it and put it in the bag.

If we end up with too many toilet paper rolls I just throw them in the compost bin. You can learn more about the does and don’t of composting by reading Composting 101.

For dyer lint I have a jar by the dryer. Everytime I empty the lint trap I take all the lint and put it in the jar. When the jar gets full I know it’s time to make some firestarters.

What is the best fire starter?

There are many different materials that can be used as fire starters, but the best material to use is something that will catch fire easily and burn for a long time. Some of the best materials to use include cotton balls, dryer lint, wax shavings, shredded paper, and egg cartons.

Want to know more about how we stay warm in winter and why we love heating our house with a wood-stove checkout Heat with a Wood Burning Stove and Get Warm 3 Times!

So, there you have it! Your very own firestarter. These simple instructions are easy to follow and will provide you with a dependable way to start fires in any weather condition. Be sure to always carry a few of these DIY firestarters with you when camping or hiking, and you’ll be glad you did when the need arises. Have you tried this project? What tips do you have for others who want to make their own fire starters?