Beeswax Uses
The Many Uses of Beeswax
Beeswax is a wax that's been used throughout history by humans. It's a hard wax that is very versatile. Honey bees produce it from glands on the underside of their abdomen. It's excreted as small white flakes and collected by other bees to be used in comb building. A colony must consume 8+ pound of honey/nectar to produce a single pound of beeswax.
Beekeepers routinely harvest wax in different ways. Mostly, it's a byproduct of the honey harvesting process. Once melted down and filtered, bars of clean yellow wax may be poured. Below is a great list of things you can make with beeswax.
Make Candles
Picking up a candle at the store is infinitely easier than DIY. But the nice thing about getting in touch with your inner Martha Stewart is that you can control exactly what goes into your candle—including its scent.
Lubricate Wood
Rub beeswax on sliding glass doors, windows, or drawers that tend to stick to restore smooth movement. Beeswax is also a fantastic lubricant for oiling very old furniture joints.
Make Your Own Beeswax Wrap
a washable, reusable and compostable product that’s made with cotton, beeswax and a few other natural ingredients like jojoba oil and tree resin.
Polish Furniture
Add one parts beeswax to three parts olive or coconut oil and gently heat over a double boiler until melted. Allow to cool and harden, then gently rub onto wooden furniture using a clean cloth.
Make Crayons
Mix equal parts beeswax and soap shavings and melt in a double boiler. Once melted, pour into molds and add a few drops of food coloring to each one to make different shades, stirring until mixed. Allow the crayons to harden (this will take a couple of hours) and they’re ready to use.
Waterproof Your Shoes
Rub some beeswax directly on the shoes with a cloth and then use a blow-dryer to melt it. Rub away any excess wax with a towel and admire your handiwork.
Make Bronze Items Sparkle
Help prevent your candle holders from getting tarnished by creating a solution of ⅓ pound beeswax melted in one quart turpentine. Use a clean towel to buff and add a thin coat to your item.
Condition a Wood Chopping Board
Melt a half-teaspoon beeswax with a cup of mineral oil and apply to the board with a clean cloth. This mixture will also moisturize and protect other wooden surfaces like spatulas, spoons and salad bowls.
Prevent Tools from Rusting
Coat your tools with beeswax to protect them from rusting and from the elements.
Rub On Baking Pans & Cookie Sheets
With a clean block of beeswax, you can simply rub it over a clean cookie sheet to create a natural non-stick pan.
Unstick Zippers
If the zipper is being particularly stubborn Here’s a quick fix—just rub a small piece of beeswax along the teeth of the zipper.
Tame Flyaways
Just rub a little beeswax between your fingertips and smooth over strands of hair for a sleek style that won’t turn greasy.
Waxed Thread
Waxed thread is often used in handmade crafts such as hand-sewn leather goods and making jewelry. The wax on the thread provides lubrication that can make sewing easier. Plain thread can be rubbed against a cube of bee’s wax, coating the thread in the wax.
Coating Nails & Screws
Once you coat your nails and screws with beeswax, they do not splinter the wood while you hammer them in.
Envelope Seal
You can make a beeswax seal and apply it to an envelope that you are sending out. This would be great for an invitation to a wedding or baby shower.
DIY Shoe Polish
Restore leather boots, shoes, pocketbooks, and more with this basic shoe polish formula. Combine and heat 2 oz of oil and 1/2 oz beeswax until the beeswax is melted. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 to 1 tsp pigment, adding more for a darker color. Makes ½ cup, just about what you’d buy in the store. Store in a small jar.
Granite Countertop Polish
Keep your granite countertops shiny with beeswax. Rub warmed beeswax in, allow it to dry, and then wipe down to remove any excess. The polish will also help prevent staining.
Season Cast Iron With Beeswax
If you have a set of cast iron pans that get used regularly, they will need some extra care from time to time. Seasoning them is the key to their longevity.
Paw Wax
Animals go about their daily lives without shoes, walking on hot pavement, stepping on rough rocks or playing in the snow. Four-legged creatures deserve some all natural pampering from time to time too.
Beeswax Pine Cone Fire Starters
If crafty and practical is your thing you might want to make some beeswax pinecone fire starters for the winter months. They make starting the fire less of a chore and more of an event.
Homemade Soaps
Beeswax is often added to soap recipes to make the finished soap harder and last longer. It should only account for up to 2% of your soap recipe.