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5 Ways To Make Own Eco-friendly Fire Starters In 2024 

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Fire starters are a survival and emergency preparedness must-have. They are necessary when in the wilderness in windy and soggy environments. You need fire starters to kickstart your barbecue grill, fire pit, or chiminea. 

A fire starter is a reliable tool for emergencies. It is for use during natural disasters and power outages. Besides, you can use them when you need to cook, signal for help, keep yourself warm, or ward off predators and dangerous animals. As a DIYer or outdoor enthusiast, you can create fire starters from scratch in these five simple ways. 

1. Egg Carton Fire Starter 

Almost every American home has access to cardboard egg cartons. The cardboard cartons are illustrious because of their eco-friendliness and affordability. Many Americans only use these cartons for storing and transporting eggs. The more crafty folks might use them to create artistic sculptures and organizers. The creative guys might use them to store screws, jewelry, beads, and buttons. 

But are you aware that these are incredible raw materials for natural fire igniters? Cut your empty egg cartons into separate cups. Fill your cups with dry grass, sawdust, and shredded paper. Add leftover cooking oil or melted candle wax. Mix them well for optimal saturation. Let it cool down before using the individual cups to kick-start fires. 

If not cut for DIY projects or do not have cardboard egg cartons, consider readymade eco-friendly fire starters. These igniters are hotter than DIY products and burn for a longer period. Some can maintain flames in high-speed winds and rainy conditions. Also, they require no kindling and can light wet wood. 

2. Dry Citrus Peels 

Dried citrus peels are some of the oldest raw materials for DIY fire starters. They are an incredible solution for igniting fire in outdoor and indoor environments. Many homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts love them because of their delightful fragrance, which makes the air around your fireplace or campfire more enchanting. 

So, instead of throwing your citrus fruit peels, keep them for this life-saving mission. When you’ve peeled your grapefruits, oranges, limes, and lemons, consider saving them for this purpose. Add small amounts of melted coconut oil or vegetable oil to the peels. The oil-soaked peels have potent wicking properties. You can light them directly. It’s the natural oils in the peel that sustain the burning. 

3. Blocks from Compressed Sawdust 

People have frequently used sawdust for animal bedding, wood pellets, and soil amendment. Many DIYers use them to create decorative items and sculptures. You can use it to create trampled sawdust briquettes from sawdust. Compressed sawdust blocks are sustainable and reliable fire-starting solutions. 

Amass enough sawdust to create the required number of blocks. Visit your local lumber mills and woodworking shops to collect chemical-free sawdust. Dry the sawdust in direct sunlight to reduce the moisture content. You require a binding tool to stick the sawdust together. You can use clay, starch, or wax.   

Those with access to a hydraulic press will have a quicker time binding their sawdust. Briquette machines for compressing biomass materials into uniform blocks are also reliable tools. After you have compressed your sawdust blocks, allow them to dry. The process lets them achieve a decent shape and maintain their structural integrity. 

4. Dryer Lint Fire Starter 

Dryer lint is a highly combustible material prevalent in many American homes. It comprises tiny fibers that burn easily. Blending dryer lint and cardboard toilet paper rolls results in an ecological fire starter. Collect enough dryer lint for the project. Clean your lint traps and keep the lint fibers after using the dryer. Collect enough of these materials and keep them in dry places. 

Stuff your cardboard roll with the dry lint. You need about three rolls, especially to create more fire igniters. Pack the lint properly to leave enough room for air circulation. Proper air circulation through the fibers supports quality combustion. Your fire igniters are ready for use.  You can keep these igniters in your grill, fire pit, or fireplace for quick-fire ignition. 

5. Beeswax Wraps 

Another creative approach is to turn your old beeswax wraps into fire igniters. Beeswax wraps combine cloth, beeswax, and other natural materials. These eco-friendly materials have high flammability and catch fire with ease. 

When beeswax wraps are no longer useful, do not dispose of them. Instead, keep them for this particular purpose. Having collected enough beeswax wraps, slice them into small pieces perfect for igniting a fire. One thing with beeswax wraps is that they light easily and provide a sustained flame. That aids in the ignition of logs and kindling. The slow-burning properties enable you to build a fire to achieve that roaring blaze. 

Keep the small beeswax wraps in different parts of your fire. You can nestle them amid your wood pile or around a dry kindling. The placement patterns notwithstanding, these eco-friendly fire-starters can kick-start any fire. You can even use them to kick-start fire in wet logs and wood pieces. 

Homeowners looking for ways to maximize the use of beeswax wraps can try this trick. It’s a safe and reliable way to promote eco-friendly living and reduce waste. 

Wrapping Up 

Do you like outdoor or indoor fireplaces and pits but have challenges sourcing for fire igniters? Are you the green-inspired kind of person driven by the passion to create a better world? You can always order eco-friendly fire starters, but they come at a price. The cheaper alternative is using the resources readily available in your home to create green fire igniters. Start with the readily available egg cartons, citrus fruit peels, and sawdust. You can also use beeswax wraps and dry lint to create long-lasting fire starters. 

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