DIY Fire Starter Pods

One of our most favorite wedding gifts we received is our fire pit. When the weather is right, we will just sit outside next to the crackling fire just thinking and talking (and sometimes pretending to make Chinese food out of Koba and Yuki).

Right when it started getting too cold to be sitting outside, fire or no fire, I found a project to make your own fire starter. I had first heard of this from my aunt Rita, but then it was revived in my brain by some random list of practical things you can do for free with stuff you already have. If you know me, you know I like to save money when I can, hence this project, hence this blog post, hence me saying the word hence.

What you will need:

• Dryer lint (I've been saving this for several months)
• Cardboard egg cartons (say no to styrofoam if you're into saving the environment)
• Wax (I used old crayons)
• Container for the wax (I used an old jar)

Directions

1. Press wads of dryer lint into the egg carton. I pushed in as much as I could without it overflowing.

2. Melt the wax. I read online that wax will melt faster if you submerge the container holding the wax into boiling water. This worked pretty well, but I just had to monitor it the whole time.

3. Pour the melted wax on top of the dryer lint. The wax should completely cover the lint and will soak into it and the egg carton a bit. CAUTION: remember, you are handling hot glass or hot metal, so be sure you use oven mits. 

4. Let the wax dry. Separate the pods by tearing or cutting them apart. Store in a cool place. Remember, these things are partially made of wax, so if you store them in the garage or outside in hot weather, the wax may melt and cause the pods to harden back together. 

Well, there ya have it. 

Cost: Free