As a nation, we have always been good at being prepared. Whether it's stocking up water and other supplies for hunkering down in a storm, being evacuation-ready in the event of a wildfire or preparing for Armageddon, we're ready. One of the core items in the prepper's kit should be a survival firestarter. You will need a fire for cooking, warmth, signaling for help and burning your trash.
You can buy these at the store or online fairly economically. One form that is popular comes packaged with parachute cord that is fashioned into the shape of a bracelet with a fire starter attached. You can use the paracord to tie your food up and hoist it up a tree to keep it safe from bears or as a clothesline. This type saves space and multitasks for you.
Other manufacturers incorporate a fire starter as part of a larger kit, like a sewing kit. One kit includes a carabiner and several feet of tightly-coiled paracord. Note, you will never, ever get that cord wound the same compact way ever again. This particular kit also comes with alcohol wipes, wire, needles and other useful items.
However, the easiest and cheapest fire starter you will ever find is one you can make with household dryer lint. That's right. Remember, the very reason you clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer is to minimize the risk of it catching a spark and setting your clothes, and ultimately your house, on fire. All you have to do is strike a flint over a tiny bundle of lint and it will ignite, burning easily and cleanly. Obviously, you will need other materials to maintain the flame.
Preparation is simple. Wash towels and put them in the clothes dryer. Clean out the lint trap, which you have to do anyway in order not to have your clothes catch on fire. Get your kids to help. They will learn two skills at the same time, prepping and doing laundry.
Another big advantage to using a lint fire starter is you avoid having to carry or use flammable liquids. This is much safer, especially where children are involved. All it takes is a very small bundle of flint to get your fire started.
If you are preparing lint for survival purposes, you may want a good two-week or more supply. Take the tedium out of it by sorting your laundry to make different colors of dryer lint. Get the kids to compete with each other to see who can make the most of 'their' color or who can come up with the best mixture of colors. They will learn the science of color and you won't have to wash a load of clothes, towels or bed linen for weeks.
Prepping doesn't have to be expensive or boring. Like the lint fire starter, you can save money and have fun making other essential items. One way to practice is to wind your own parachute cord.
You can buy these at the store or online fairly economically. One form that is popular comes packaged with parachute cord that is fashioned into the shape of a bracelet with a fire starter attached. You can use the paracord to tie your food up and hoist it up a tree to keep it safe from bears or as a clothesline. This type saves space and multitasks for you.
Other manufacturers incorporate a fire starter as part of a larger kit, like a sewing kit. One kit includes a carabiner and several feet of tightly-coiled paracord. Note, you will never, ever get that cord wound the same compact way ever again. This particular kit also comes with alcohol wipes, wire, needles and other useful items.
However, the easiest and cheapest fire starter you will ever find is one you can make with household dryer lint. That's right. Remember, the very reason you clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer is to minimize the risk of it catching a spark and setting your clothes, and ultimately your house, on fire. All you have to do is strike a flint over a tiny bundle of lint and it will ignite, burning easily and cleanly. Obviously, you will need other materials to maintain the flame.
Preparation is simple. Wash towels and put them in the clothes dryer. Clean out the lint trap, which you have to do anyway in order not to have your clothes catch on fire. Get your kids to help. They will learn two skills at the same time, prepping and doing laundry.
Another big advantage to using a lint fire starter is you avoid having to carry or use flammable liquids. This is much safer, especially where children are involved. All it takes is a very small bundle of flint to get your fire started.
If you are preparing lint for survival purposes, you may want a good two-week or more supply. Take the tedium out of it by sorting your laundry to make different colors of dryer lint. Get the kids to compete with each other to see who can make the most of 'their' color or who can come up with the best mixture of colors. They will learn the science of color and you won't have to wash a load of clothes, towels or bed linen for weeks.
Prepping doesn't have to be expensive or boring. Like the lint fire starter, you can save money and have fun making other essential items. One way to practice is to wind your own parachute cord.
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