Recycled and recyclable items, such as cardboard and paper, can be ignited as fire-starters, an inexpensive and eco-friendly way to start your campfire, wood stove, fireplace or bonfire. As you consume packaged food items, toiletries and other items that are sold in cardboard, fold the boxes flat and store them away for a rainy day. In a separate basket, store a ball of string and each wash day's dryer lint. Choose a cool, dull or dreary day to spend a few hours making a supply of fire starters to last you through the long, cold winter.
Step 1
Fill a small pot halfway with water. Heat until water boils. Reduce heat to low to keep water hot but not boiling.
Step 2
Cut candles and stubs into one-inch pieces. Place pieces in a tin can until the can is about half full. Place the can into the hot water to melt the wax.
Step 3
Trim recyclable cardboard into pieces about two inches long and one inch wide. Cut toilet paper rolls in half and paper towel rolls into one-inch pieces. Roll paper plates into tight tube shapes and cut in half. This will give you smaller pieces and better wax coverage.
Step 4
Dip one end of each rolled and cut paper plate into the melted candle wax. Remove and place the pieces on the cookie sheet to dry. Replenish the wax in the can as needed, keeping the melted wax at the half-full point.
Step 5
Stuff the paper towel and toilet paper rolls with dryer lint and press flat. Tie the rolls closed with a piece of string, allowing one string end to hang free about six inches.
Step 6
Fold the cut cardboard packaging pieces in half. Fill the inside with dryer lint. Tie the pieces closed with string, leaving a six-inch string end.
Step 7
Dip the stuffed paper towel and toilet paper rolls and the stuffed cardboard packaging pieces into the melted wax one at a time, holding the long end of the string.
Step 8
Remove the pieces to a cookie sheet to dry. Store in a dry, cool place until ready to use.
Tips and Warnings
- Always remove any cellophane windows in your cardboard packaging before making fire starters. Use the dregs of your melted wax can to make egg-carton fire-starters. Stuff the egg holes with dryer lint, then drizzle the wax over the lint. Cut the carton apart when the wax is dry.
- Never use styrofoam plates as fire-starters. The material is not suitable for burning.
Things You'll Need
- candles and candle stubs
- small pot
- tin can
- sharp knife
- cardboard packaging
- lightly used paper plates
- empty toilet paper cardboard tube
- empty paper towel cardboard tube
- dryer lint
- string
- scissors
- cookie sheet lined with foil
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