Southern Wisconsin Times

Blain’s Farm & Fleet offers a guide on creating homemade fire starters, which can be useful for camping trips, cozy fireside evenings, or emergency preparedness. The process is cost-effective and environmentally friendly, using materials often found at home.

The method involves using a cardboard egg carton or toilet paper roll combined with dryer lint and candle wax to create long-lasting fire starters. According to the guide, "This is a tried-and-true method that combines old egg cartons with wax for long-lasting, individual fire starters."

To make these fire starters, one must cut an empty cardboard egg carton into sections that hold individual eggs. These sections are then filled with dryer lint and covered with melted candle wax. The wax should seep into the spaces between the lint to help it catch fire and burn longer. After cooling and hardening, the egg cups are separated into individual cubes ready for use.

For those short on time or materials, a simpler method involves stuffing an empty toilet paper roll loosely with dryer lint. For tidy storage, users can pinch and fold the ends of the roll or wrap it in parchment paper.

The guide emphasizes proper usage: "Position Properly: Place your fire starter underneath small twigs, wood chips, or kindling to give the fire enough fuel to grow." It also advises safe use in designated areas like fire pits or fireplaces and proper storage in cool, dry places.

These homemade fire starters have multiple uses beyond camping; they can also be used in backyard fire pits or indoor fireplaces. Blain’s Farm & Fleet notes that there is satisfaction in lighting a fire with something made personally: "There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of lighting a fire with something you made yourself."