Fill a mason jar with natural (not synthetic) wine corks and rubbing alcohol and let them soak. The corks will burn after a couple of days, but soaking for a full week gives the best results.
Three DIY Fire Starters for Fall
The first week of fall means colder weather isn't far off, and soon enough fireplaces and backyard fire pits will be getting regular use. Anyone who's struggled to start a fire with newspaper or dry leaves should try one of these do-it-yourself fire starters first, before reaching for the lighter fluid.
Wine Cork Fire Starters
DIY Lint Fire Starter Logs
A good fire needs tinder, kindling, and fuel, and dryer lint makes surprisingly good tinder. Stuffing empty toilet paper tubes with dryer lint makes fire-starter "logs" that light quickly and burn long enough to catch the kindling, no lighter fluid required.
Cotton Balls in Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is surprisingly flammable. Work it thoroughly into a cotton ball by hand, or just toss cotton balls and a tub of jelly into a ziplock bag to make them on the spot. Store finished ones in a ziplock bag or other airtight container so the jelly doesn't dry out.
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