10 Fire Starting Materials You Probably Have At Home

Fire starting materials are abundant in your household. Check out our top picks for fire starting items in the list below!

RELATED: How To Make A DIY Dryer Lint Fire Starter

Fire Starting Materials Your Home Holds Right Now

1. Battery and Gum Wrappers

A battery can be used to start a fire with a gum wrapper as kindling. It’s quick and easy.

My advice is, if you pack these 2 items in your bug out bag (or any other pack), make sure the battery and the kindling are packed separately. They may ignite if placed together!

2. Paper Products

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Newspaper, paper towels, toilet paper, and scrap paper are go-to items for starting wood stoves and fireplaces. A dry bit of paper can be a lifesaver in campfire building as well.

Bonus survival use: Crumpled balls of paper make good insulation if stuffed into your clothing.

3. Cotton Gauze

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Raiding the first aid kit for tinder is a sure sign that you’re in an ugly situation. Paper-wrapped cotton gauze is there as a wound dressing but it’s also very flammable.

4. Dryer Lint

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This dusty fluff is extremely flammable because it consists entirely of cotton fibers. Just keep it dry and it will light with sparks or an open flame.

5. Cotton Balls

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This is one of my favorite things to use and one of the best tinder for fire starting! Either dry cotton balls or ones soaked in petroleum jelly makes the best homemade fire starter.

The dry ones will burn for 20 seconds or so. Greased-up cotton balls will burn up to 5 minutes, making them fantastic fire starting materials!

Check out these waterproof fire starters from our friends at DIY Projects. They are so simple to make and are very handy!

Also, check out this project, DIY pill bottle fire starter. A fun project and great to bring along to your family camping trips! Also, a great addition to your bug out bag.

RELATED: This “AA” Prison Hack Now A Fire Starter For Survivalists

6. Lighter

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A lighter is a must-have item with a fire tinder kit for any survivalist! As I always say, have one in the house, one in the bug out bag, one in the car, and one in your daypack or purse.

7. Magnifying Glass

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You can start a fire without a spark by using a magnifying glass. Another item to have at home and a must-have item for your bug out bag.

8. Trick Birthday Candles

The benefit of using trick birthday candles as fire starting materials?

They will not blow out in the wind! Genius!

9. Tampons

Who would have thought, tampons can also be an effective fire starter? The cotton fibers, when separated, make great tinder.

Check out this video by Sensible Prepper for other great survival tampons uses when SHTF.

10. Char Cloth

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Making char cloth is a simple process. I find that the material of a bandana works best—lights right up!

Having some pre-made to carry with you (or to have at home) is a sure way you’ll start a fire every time.

Watch the video by Alfie Aesthetics on how to make the perfect char cloth.

Learn how to make a fire using a mobile phone from this video by Robert Hodkinson:

Now you know just how many items you have at home you can use as fire starters. It’s also important to know which item is effective as survival fire starters so you can carry one or two of these fire starting materials wherever you go.

If you find yourself without matches or a fire starter, these fire starting materials you can find at home will save the day. Add these 10 items to your fire starter list from now on!

If you have any fire starting tips you would like to share, let us know in the comments section below!

Up Next: 

• 30 Uses For Trash Bags | Bug Out Bag Essentials
• How To Properly Build A Fire: A Step By Step Guide With Safety Tips
• Flint And Tinder | Fire Making Basics For Everyday Survivalists Like You

For awesome survival gear you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!

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***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published 0n March 31, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.