Things You'll Need:
- Cardboard Egg Cartons
- Dryer lint
- Candle wax (I save any wax that spills over the candles when I burn them. Old candles or stubs, even half burned birthday candles work for this.)
- Old glass measuring cup or short pitcher (it must have a handle and fit in your microwave.)
- Microwave
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Step 1
Separate the egg carton top and bottom you'll only need the bottoms. Recycle the tops.
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Step 2
Lay down some old newspaper on your work surface to protect it and place the egg carton bottoms on top of the recycled newspaper.
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Step 3
Fill the cups of the egg carton bottom with your recycled dryer lint. They don't have to be heaping full but you need them to be at least half full to absorb the wax.
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Step 4
Remove any metal pieces from candles (check the bottoms) wicks are ok to leave in. Place all your salvaged candle wax and candles in the glass-measuring cup (or appropriate handled container). Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
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Step 5
Use a hot pad to pull the container out of the microwave and check the wax. If there are still solid pieces just stir it a little with a stick (recycled popsicle, chopstick, tree twig) and put it back in the microwave for a minute. Continue checking, stirring and micro waving a minute at a time until all the wax is completely melted.
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Step 6
When the recycled wax is completely melted pour it into the lint filled egg cups. You only need a couple of tablespoons of wax in each cup but can fill them up to half full with wax. Be careful to leave the cup edges bare of wax so you have something to light when using your fire starter. Leave until wax has hardened.
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Step 7
When the wax has hardened cut the cups into single cups. Store your fire starters in an recycled coffee can, oatmeal container or plastic bag. When you’re ready to use your fire starter just light the corner of the cup.
