Starting a fire is challenging enough. Throwing on top of that the lack of professional fire starting aids like a fire brick or a lighter and for most people it's time to throw in the towel.

Luckily, a quick glance around your home will likely net you a handful of excellent fire starters that will give you a flame in a matter of seconds.

Dryer Lint
This dusty fluff is extremely flammable because it consists entirely of cotton fibers. Just keep it dry and it will light with sparks or an open flame.
Cotton Balls
One of my favorite things to use for tinder! Either dry cotton balls or ones soaked in petroleum jelly will make a great fire starter. The dry ones will burn for 20 seconds or so. Greased-up cotton balls will burn up to 5 minutes.
9V Battery and Steel Wool
My advice… if you pack these 2 items in your bug out bag (or any other pack), make sure that the 9V battery and the steel wool are packed separately. It’s almost certain they will ignite if placed together!
Trick Birthday Candles
The benefit of using trick birthday candles? They will not blow out in the wind! Genius!
Tampons
The cotton fibers, when separated, make great tinder!

For most of these, you will, at least, need a spark from a Ferro rod to get a flame going. However, even if you have to rely on primitive fire building skills, resources like tampons or cotton balls will make catching and grow an ember much easier.

A trick birthday candle is also a bug out bag essential thanks to its wind-resistance, offering you those few extra seconds you need to get a real flame going in dangerous circumstances.

For more fire starting items, take a look at Survival Life.