DIY Fire Starters
Light up chilly evenings with the simple comfort of these homemade fire starters. Crafted with natural materials and a touch of cottage charm, they make starting a cozy fire easy and enjoyable.
Yield: 12
Cost: $5
Equipment
- Candle Melting Pot
- Muffin Tin
- Double Broiler optional
Materials
- 1–2 lbs Candle Wax or Paraffin Wax 454–907g
- 12 Unbleached Muffin Liners
- 12 Candle Wicks
- 12 Candle Wick Stickers
- 12 Cinnamon Sticks optional
- 12 Bay Leaves optional
- 1 Quart-size Bag of Dryer Lint optional 200g
Instructions
- Melt: Place candle wax or paraffin wax in a candle pot or double boiler and melt until fully liquid.
- Prepare: Line each muffin tin compartment with an unbleached muffin liner.
- Set Wicks: Attach candle wicks in the center using wick stickers to hold them in place.
- Fill: Add dryer lint to each muffin liner, keeping the wick centered.
- Pour: Carefully pour the melted wax over the dryer lint until just covered.
- Add Aroma: Place a cinnamon stick and bay leaf on top if desired for fragrance.
- Cool: Let the fire starters cool and harden completely at room temperature.
- Trim: Remove the hardened fire starters from the tin and trim each wick to about 1 inch.
- Store: Keep the finished fire starters in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
Video
Notes
Melting Wax: If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a plug-in cooktop with a metal pouring pot set directly on it—just like shown above.
Aromatic Touch: Add bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, or even dried orange peels to the wax for a cozy scent when the fire burns.
Materials Tip: Dryer lint works beautifully, but you can also use sawdust, wood shavings, or small pinecones.
Storage: Keep your finished fire starters in a sealed container or tin to stay dry until use.
Safety: Never leave melting wax unattended and keep children and pets away from the workspace.