Backup Fire Starters in Plain Sight: 20 Unlikely Sources You Can Forage When You’re Out of InstaFire
In an ideal world, every survival kit would include a reliable fire starter like our Fire Starter Packs, designed for quick and dependable fire-starting in any condition.
These should always be your first choice. Unlike makeshift methods, they're specifically engineered to light quickly, burn hot, and endure wet or windy conditions.
However, emergencies can strike unexpectedly. You might find yourself needing alternative solutions.
This guide will illustrate how to make do with what's in your environment, finding anything to burn in an emergency. Read on for 20 unlikely backup fire-starting materials hidden in plain sight.
Dryer Lint – The Convenient Igniter
Dryer lint—often overlooked—is an abundant and effective tinder, found in every urban home.
Preparation: Collect lint from your dryer's lint trap after each load of laundry.
Uses: Ignites quickly and burns hot, ideal for starting a fire in a pinch.
How to Find: Check the dryer regularly and store the lint in a waterproof container.
Pointer: Compress lint into an empty egg carton and pour melted wax over it to create lasting fire starters.
Steel Wool – The Sparking Mesh
Fine steel wool is a versatile material that can create sparks and ignite easily with a battery.
Preparation: Stretch out a small piece of steel wool to increase its surface area.
Uses: Connect the steel wool to both ends of a battery to cause sparks. Use grade 0000 steel wool for best results.
How to Find: Often found in hardware stores.
Pointer: Keep steel wool dry and separate from batteries until ready to use to prevent accidental ignition.
Battery and Foil – The Instant Spark
A simple battery and a strip of aluminum foil can be used to create a spark.
Preparation: Cut the foil into a thin strip and touch the ends to the battery terminals.
Uses: The electrical current will heat the foil to ignite tinder. This method works best with unused batteries.
Pointer: Use this method with caution to avoid burning yourself or causing a short circuit.
Chips – The Greasy Firestarter
Surprisingly, the oils in potato chips make them excellent for burning.
Preparation: Lightly crush the chips to expose more surface area, but not to powder. This method is a last resort due to their better use as food.
Uses: Ignites easily and sustains a flame long enough to catch on larger kindling.
Pointer: Use the greasiest chips, like classic-style potato chips, for best results.
Pencil Shavings – The Wood Curl Igniter
Pencil shavings are an easily accessible and effective tinder.
Preparation: Use a sharpener to create fine shavings from wooden pencils.
Uses: Catches fire quickly and is great for building a fire base.
How to Find: Look for non-toxic, natural wood pencils. Avoid colored pencils as they may contain harmful chemicals.
Pointer: Collect shavings in a dry container. They double as excellent kindling.
Sanitizing Wipes – The Quick Flame
Alcohol-based sanitizing wipes can ignite with a small spark due to their high alcohol content.
Preparation: Tear the wipe into strips to expose more edges.
Uses: Light quickly to start an emergency fire.
How to Find: Any wipe with at least 70% isopropyl alcohol content.
Pointer: Store in an airtight container to prevent the alcohol from evaporating.
Wax Crayons – The Colorful Burner
A single crayon can burn for up to 30 minutes, acting as a miniature candle.
Preparation: Ignite the paper wrapping to start burning the crayon.
Uses: Provides a steady flame for a significant duration.
How to Find: Look for regular wax crayons, not the washable or non-toxic types.
Pointer: Use multiple crayons together to create a larger flame, if needed.
Tampons – The Compact Cotton Tinder
The compressed cotton in tampons makes them excellent fire starters when unraveled.
Preparation: Pull apart the cotton to fluff it up and increase airflow.
Uses: Cotton fibers catch fire quickly. Useful for starting a fire under damp conditions.
How to Find: Look for unscented, 100% cotton tampons. Easy to find in personal care aisles of most stores.
Pointer: Keep tampons in a waterproof bag to ensure they stay dry until needed.
Rubbing Alcohol – The Quick Ignite Solution
Rubbing alcohol burns cleanly and can be used to soak other materials to aid in fire starting.
Preparation: Soak cotton balls or small pieces of cloth in rubbing alcohol.
Uses: Creates a hot, quick flame to help ignite larger pieces of wood.
How to Find: Choose bottles with 70% or higher isopropyl alcohol content. Typically found in first aid kits and drugstores.
Pointer: Store alcohol in a tightly sealed container to prevent evaporation and leaks.
Hand Sanitizer – The Gel Flame
Similar to rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer gels—due to their alcohol content—can be used as fire starters.
Preparation: Squeeze a small amount onto kindling or paper.
Uses: Ignites quickly, especially those with higher alcohol concentrations.
How to Find: Opt for gels with an alcohol content of 60% or higher. Common in personal hygiene kits.
Pointer: As with sanitizing wipes, keep the container sealed to retain alcohol content.
Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly – The Classic Combo
Cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly burn slowly and reliably, making them a staple in emergency fire-starting kits.
Preparation: Thoroughly cover cotton balls with petroleum jelly until they are well-coated.
Uses: Provides a durable, slow-burning flame suitable for starting larger fires.
How to Find: Look for plain cotton balls and petroleum jelly, both typically found in the skin care aisle.
Pointer: This combination is waterproof and can be stored for long periods. Pack these in small, airtight containers to keep them ready for use whenever needed.
Guitar Picks – The Melodic Igniter
Made of celluloid and other flammable materials, guitar picks can catch fire quickly when exposed to a flame.
Preparation: Hold with pliers or a similar tool to keep fingers safe.
Uses: Burns intensely for a short period. Useful for igniting kindling.
How to Find: Look for older or inexpensive picks made from more flammable materials.
Pointer: Use multiple picks to sustain a flame long enough to light larger pieces of wood.
Frito Chips – The Salty Spark
The oils in Frito chips make them an effective and unconventional fire starter.
Preparation: Crush lightly to increase the surface area exposed to the flame.
Uses: Ignites quickly and sustains a flame. Effective in wind-protected environments.
How to Find: Get small, curly corn chips high in oil content. Typically found in snack aisles at grocery stores or gas stations.
Pointer: Use as a last-ditch fire starter when other materials aren't available.
Seaweed – The Coastal Kindle
When dried, seaweed can catch fire quickly, making it a great resource in coastal urban areas.
Preparation: Allow seaweed to dry completely in the sun before using as tinder.
Uses: Lights easily due to its dry, thin structure.
How to Find: Look for dried seaweed on beaches or in coastal markets. Ensure it is completely dry and free of saltwater residue for best results.
Pointer: Store in a dry, airtight container to prevent reabsorption of moisture.
Orange Peels – The Citrus Flame
Dried orange peels contain oils that can ignite under the right conditions, releasing a pleasant scent as they burn.
Preparation: Peel oranges and dry the skins thoroughly before use.
Uses: The oils enhance the peel's flammability, making it a fragrant fire starter.
How to Find: Look for thick-skinned oranges for more substantial peels. Can be dried on a windowsill or in a low-heat oven.
Pointer: Keep dried peels in a sealed bag to retain their flammable oils.
Duct Tape – The Sticky Flame
Surprisingly, duct tape can serve as an effective fire starter due to both its adhesive and fabric components.
Preparation: Cut into strips to expose more surface area to flames.
Uses: Burns slowly and steadily, helping to ignite stubborn kindling.
How to Find: Opt for the basic variety without flame-retardant additives.
Pointer: Roll up strips of duct tape to create a denser, longer-lasting flame source.
Used Coffee Grounds – The Brewer’s Burn
When dried, used coffee grounds can catch fire easily, making them a resourceful way to recycle your morning brew.
Preparation: Spread used grounds on a baking sheet and dry completely.
Uses: It smolders rather than flames, which is great for a slow burn.
How to Find: Collect grounds from your daily coffee. Espresso grounds work best due to their fine consistency. Ensure they are fully dried to prevent mold.
Pointer: Mix with wax or another binder to create homemade fire pellets.
Birch Bark – The Natural Torch
The natural oils in birch bark make it a superb fire starter, even when wet.
Preparation: Peel thin strips from fallen birch logs or branches.
Uses: Catches fire quickly with a strong and lasting burn.
How to Find: Look for trees with white, paper-like bark. Often found in cooler climates and near water sources.
Pointer: Harvest without damaging living trees to maintain sustainability.
Magnesium Shavings – The Intense Spark
A small amount of magnesium can produce intense flames that burn at a high temperature.
Preparation: Use a knife or sharp object to shave small bits from a magnesium block.
Uses: Ideal for igniting damp tinder.
How to Find: Magnesium blocks are often sold in camping or survival stores. They're lightweight and easy to carry, making them a practical addition to any survival kit.
Pointer: Collect shavings in a dry container and use sparingly as magnesium burns very quickly.
Toilet Roll Tubes Stuffed with Lint – The Home Recycler
Combining toilet paper tubes with dryer lint can create a powerful, homemade fire starter.
Preparation: Stuff lint into empty toilet paper tubes for compact and easy-to-light tinder.
Uses: Provides a quick and effective way to start a fire.
How to Find: Save tubes from finished toilet paper rolls and collect lint from your dryer. Best used when lint is tightly packed into the tubes.
Pointer: Wrap the outside with wax paper to waterproof your fire starter.
The world around us is full of resources that can pivot to meet our needs, especially in unexpected survival situations.
While our Fire Starter Packs are the optimal choice for reliability and safety, knowing about these 20 alternative fire starters is invaluable in a pinch. Always be prepared, explore your urban environment wisely, and remember that sometimes, the most everyday items can provide life-saving benefits.