Creative Campfire Kindling: Household Items to Ignite Your Fire

No campout or camping trip is complete without a campfire, especially when you're using that fire to cook your meals or roast some ooey-gooey s'mores! While small sticks and twigs often suffice to kindle wood into a campfire, you may find yourself running low on usable materials or facing the age-old problem of rain-soaked wood. Fortunately, there are plenty of everyday items you likely have at your campsite that can help you out in a pinch.

Household Items to Help Kindle Your Campfire

1. Birthday Candles

Birthday candles are lightweight, easy to ignite, and take up very little space! As a bonus, you can use birthday candles multiple times, making them a handy feature when you want something more durable than leaves or bundles of sticks. If you have them, trick birthday candles are even better, as they will reignite themselves if blown out by the wind.

2. Dryer Lint

Save up your dryer lint for an easy kindling solution that costs nothing. This stray fuzz makes excellent kindling and produces a large enough flame to ignite other fire starters. Just remember to collect it responsibly!

3. Snack Food

While it may not be your first thought, many types of junk food, including Pringles and Cheetos, can serve as effective kindling. Though they can be a bit finicky to ignite, these snacks burn for a long time and are easily accessible. Just ensure that you properly dispose of the bags and wrappers, as these are not suitable for burning.

4. Vaseline and Petroleum Jelly

Rubbing Vaseline into cotton balls creates kindling that is easy to ignite and lasts long enough for your flames to become steady and roaring! These simple concoctions can be stored in a baggie or canister for future use, making them a great addition to your camping gear.

5. Pine Cones

Pine cones may be wooden, but their needles and core make excellent kindling and tinder. The pine sap ignites easily, while the woody core provides enough material to keep burning long enough for larger sticks and logs to catch fire. Take a walk around your campsite to hunt for plenty of these natural kindlers!

Conclusion

We hope these tips will ignite your fire, so you can enjoy amazing campfires during your next getaway with Sun Outdoors. With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can ensure that your campfire experience is always a memorable one!

Related Posts

• Essential Campfire Cooking Equipment 
• Top 10 Campfire Recipes
• 4 Easy Camping Breakfasts