The furniture polish that you buy in the store is often packed with chemicals and is very rarely organic or made with natural materials.
If you want to use a furniture polish that is natural then you can try beeswax furniture polish. It is a fantastic product that will make your furniture look smart and will bring out the natural grain in the wood.
You can buy beeswax furniture polish from some stores, but it is not always very easy to get hold of. Alternatively, you can make your own.
Making your own beeswax furniture polish is fairly straightforward when you know.
If you are interested in how to make and use beeswax furniture polish then keep reading. We have put together this useful guide to tell you everything you need to know.
What Is Beeswax Furniture Polish?
Beeswax furniture polish is a natural alternative to standard furniture polish. It is usually thicker in consistency and is stored in a tin rather than sprayed from an aerosol can. You can use it to clean your furniture and to make it look good.
What Ingredients Do You Need To Make Beeswax Furniture Polish?
Before you get started making your own beeswax furniture polish, let’s take a look at the ingredients that you are going to need. It is a very simple recipe that only requires two ingredients.
Beeswax
The most important ingredient in the furniture polish is the beeswax itself. It forms a barrier over your furniture to protect it, but without covering it harsh chemicals that can damage the wood.
If you have hives you can use your own beeswax, but if not then you will need to buy some.
Make sure it is from a reputable seller and that it is organic. Some beeswax is treated with chemicals before it is sold and you want to avoid this if possible.
A lot of people believe that all beeswax is yellow, but this is not the case. If you want your furniture polish to appear yellow in color then you will need to make sure that the beeswax you use is yellow.
However, this is not actually necessary- it just comes down to personal preference.
Conditioning Oil
Conditioning oil is the second ingredient that you will need. The beeswax protects the wood, and the conditioning oil moisturizes it. It also leaves the wood with a nice, glossy appearance and deepens the colors and the textures.
There are two types of oil that you can use for this recipe – mineral oil or fractionated coconut oil.
Mineral oil is quite a traditional ingredient to use in ‘natural’ furniture polish, but some people are put off by the fact that mineral oil is petroleum based. This means that your furniture polish won’t be completely natural.
If you want to make sure that your furniture polish is entirely natural, then you should use fractionated coconut oil instead of mineral oil.
Coconut oil is usually in a waxy form, which would not mix well with the beeswax or create the right consistency for furniture polish. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated to ensure that it remains in a liquid form.
Fractionated oil is more expensive than mineral oil, but it is better for your skin. Whichever oil you choose, make sure that it is food-safe so that you can use it on cutting boards in your kitchen or on your wooden worktop.
Scent
The only two ingredients you need to use are beeswax and conditioning oil, but you have the option to add something else to the furniture polish if you want to scent it.
Beeswax has a natural scent that is pleasant, but lavender oil complements it well if you want a stronger smell. You can also use lemon if you would prefer a fruity, zingy smell.
How To Make Beeswax Furniture Polish
Now that you know about what ingredients you need to make your natural beeswax furniture polish, it is time to get to grips with the method.
Ingredients
You need to use one part beeswax to three parts conditioning oil. Four 8 ounces of furniture polish you need 2 ounces or three quarters of a cup of beeswax, and 6 ounces or three quarters of a cup of conditioning oil.
If you are scenting the polish with essential oils you will need to use one to two drops depending on how strong you want it to be.
Equipment
There are a few things that you will need in order to make beeswax furniture polish, as you will need to melt the ingredients together. Here is what you will need:
Double Pan – You need a double pan that you are happy to put wax into. Alternatively, you can use a pan and a heat proof mixing bowl that fits inside it.
Stirrer – You will need to stir the mixture. You can use a wooden spoon if you have one that you don’t mind getting wax on, or you can use a wooden skewer.
Container – Once the wax has been made, you will need something to keep it in. You can use a tin or a mason jar that holds 8 ounces. And it will need to have a lid.
Method
Step One – Use the double boiler or pan and mixing bowl to melt the wax into a liquid. You will need about an inch of water in the bottom of the double boiler or the pan, and the beeswax goes in the top boiler or the mixing bowl. You can use the wooden spoon or skewer to stir the beeswax as it melts.
Step Two – The next step is to add the conditioning oil. The beeswax will harden again as it cools, so you need to make sure that you add the oil while the beeswax is still hot. Stir the two ingredients until they are combined. If you are using essential oils, add them now.
Step Three – While the combined ingredients are still warm, pour them into your chosen container. Let it cool and harden- this should take about 3 to 4 hours.
How To Use Beeswax Furniture Polish
The beeswax furniture polish will cool down to a fairly hard consistency. It will be softer than beeswax, so you will be able to scrape it out of the container and work it into the wood.
However, if you would prefer to use a liquid polish then you can scrape out a small amount and melt it to soften it up again.
You can use the polish to remove dry dust, but if the wood is particularly dirty you may need to use a wrung out sponge first to clean the dirt off.
Make sure the wood is completely dry before you polish it, or the water will block the polish from combining with the wood.
If you are refurbishing a piece of old furniture then you may need to sand it down to make it smooth or remove old flakes of paint before you polish it.
All you need to do is put a small amount of polish onto a cloth – preferably a lint free cloth like microfiber.
Rub the cloth over the wood, working the polish in evenly so it soaks into the wood. Use circular motions and continue this process until you have polished the whole piece of furniture. Play close attention to ridges, creases and crevices.
Why Use Beeswax Furniture Polish?
Using beeswax furniture polish on your wooden furniture will help to preserve it and keep it in good condition. It will also make the furniture look better as it will bring out the natural grain of the wood.
Summary
Beeswax furniture polish is a fantastic natural product that you can use on your wooden furniture. It is very easy to make it yourself rather than buying it from a store.
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