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IN THIS ARTICLE
Recipe | Beeswax Preparation | Drying Oil | Essential Oil | Storage

In this article, I’m going to discuss how to make natural beeswax furniture polish instead of buying it at a store. You’ll be surprised to see how cheap and easy it is. More importantly, you get the satisfaction of making it yourself.

Natural Beeswax Furniture Polish Recipe

How To Prepare Beeswax For Melting

You’ll need 2 fluid ounces (60 ml) of natural beeswax. You can buy it as bars or in chips or blocks. There’s no right or wrong, just choose the one that’s right for you. In addition, if you are lucky enough to have your own bee hives, then you can use your own wax. My block of wax is from my own bee hives, so it’s not as uniform as those you can buy from a store. Beeswax is easy to buy online, take at a look at EricX Light Beeswax Bars.

If you buy bars or blocks, cut them with a knife into small pieces.  This will help them melt faster. Use your knife to almost shave slices off the side. Be very careful as it’s easy to slip and cut yourself.

Take the time to smell your beeswax. It’s a truly delicious smell. If you have ever been around bee hives, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

How To Melt Beeswax For Polish

There are a lot of different ways you can melt beeswax.  It’s actually quite flammable, so you need to be very careful how you do it.  The two methods I use are microwave (inside a preserving jar) or with a small slow cooker.  There is no right or wrong, though the slow cooker method feels safer.

How To Melt Beeswax In A Microwave

Using a preserving jar with the lid off, place your beeswax pieces into the jar.  Place the jar into your microwave with the lid off. Set your timer for 30 seconds.  After its run for 30 seconds check your beeswax.  Run it for another 30 seconds and check again.  Repeat this process until you have a nice puddle of melted beeswax in your jar.  There is a danger your beeswax can ignite. Be sure to stop the microwave process as soon as your beeswax is melted.

How To Melt Beeswax In A Slow Cooker

I prefer using the slow cooker.  This method feels safer than the microwave. I use this method when I make a batch that’s larger than 1 jar. Place your beeswax pieces into the slow cooker.  Set the temperature on high, put the lid on.  Check it every 15 minutes.  Turn your slow cooker down to low once you have a nice puddle of melted beeswax.

What Is Drying Oil

A drying oil is an oil that will harden over time, as it dries out.  Linseed Oil and Tung Oil are the two most popular drying oils.  There are other drying oils you can also try, such as Perilla Seed Oil, Poppy Seed Oil and Walnut Oil.  They each have their own unique properties, so you should experiment.  It’s part of the fun.

What Oil Is Best For Furniture Polish

As I mentioned above, Linseed Oil and Tung Oil are the two most popular drying oils.  Both are inexpensive and provide a durable finish.  Experts have used these for hundreds of years for good reason, they work. That simple. I recommend using one of these drying oils.

I’ve had great results using the brand of Linseed Oil below. This is one of many good quality products available.

A note about Linseed Oil. It comes in two varieties, Raw Linseed Oil and Boiled Linseed Oil. Both are excellent products, but you need to think about what you will use your polish for, to help you choose the correct one. Raw Linseed Oil is what its name suggests, nothing but the oil. No additives. Boiled Linseed Oil is heated to help the oil dry faster, but can also have other items added which further shorten the drying time. This means it is not always food safe. Keep this in mind. Always read the label on the can before you purchase your oil, then you can make sure it’s correct for your project. Notice my link to Linseed Oil above is to a Raw Linseed Oil.

Beware of Using Non-drying Oils

While you can use non drying oils, some of these have a very short shelf life and can go bad, rancid.  This could leave your furniture with an unpleasant smell and may even be unsafe.  If you want to try another oil, do your research and find out if it is suitable for making into a polish.

What Is The Best Container For Your Polish?

I like to use a preserving jar (canning jar, mason jar) as it has a nice wide opening and a good tight lid.  They are also cheap and reusable which means they are great for our environment.  Really, you can use any container you like, as long as it has a wide opening, a good tight lid and is made of a material that can take the heat of hot wax and oil.  The most important thing is that it’s easy to reach the polish with a soft polish cloth.

My family has a sweet tooth, so I have a ready supply of empty candy tins. These are a similar volume to the 8 ounce preserving jar and they have a wide mouth and tight lid. Perfect for the job. They are metal you can’t use them in your microwave. Really, you can use any jar or tin you want and it’s great to upcycle.

What Essential Oil Can You Add to Furniture Polish

Some people like the natural smell of the polish and others like to add a fragrance. The smell depends on the type of drying oil you use. For example, Tung Oil has a walnut like smell. I really like this all by itself.

You should try the natural product first, if you don’t like the smell, then you can change it by adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil. My favorites are Cedar Wood Oil or Orange Oil. 10 drops of either is plenty for one jar of polish.

How To Blend Beeswax And Oil

The basic ratio for blending your beeswax and oil is 1 to 3.  1 part beeswax to 3 parts oil.  We have 2 ounces (60 ml) of beeswax so we need 6 ounces (180 ml) of oil.  As you become good at this process, you can experiment with different ratios.  For example, a little more oil will make your polish softer.

I recommend you warm your oil in the microwave before blending. This will ensure you have plenty of time to mix the beeswax and oil blend thoroughly. I use a glass measuring jug as it’s easy to handle. Try not to boil your oil, it does not need to be that hot.

If you’re using the slow cooker method, transfer your melted beeswax into the preserving jar (canning jar) you have already prepared. If you’re using the microwave method, remove your jar from the microwave. 

Before the beeswax starts to cool, transfer 6 ounces (180 ml) of warm oil into the preserving jar on top of your melted beeswax.  Stir the beeswax and oil blend carefully until it’s well blended. 60 seconds of stirring is enough to ensure it’s well mixed.  As long as you stir it well when you first combine the beeswax and oil, there is really no need to stir it again. It’s already in the jar we’re going to store it in, so there’s nothing left to do but let it cool.

It takes about 4 to 6 hours for your polish to set properly and be ready for use.  There is no need to rush this process.  I recommend leaving the jar overnight with the lid off. Make sure it’s resting in a safe place away from children and pets.

How Do You Store Beeswax Polish

You polish is made with a drying oil. Exposure to air, is the process that makes a drying oil, dry out. This means you need a good lid to keep air out out of your polish container. Any container with an air-tight lid will do the job. So, always replace the lid once you’re finished with your polish.

Conclusion

Natural beeswax furniture polish is easy and fun to make. It’s a blend of a drying oil and beeswax at the basic ratio of 1 part to 3 parts, that simple. You are in control of the ingredients so there are no hidden chemicals. This means it’s safe for your family.

Now you are ready to make and use the furniture polish you made. I hope you enjoy making this polish as much as I do. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you made it yourself.

Let me know about your experience below.

I’ve been asked by several readers about the candy tin I’ve used in the picture above. The Brand and details are below. They are delicious and I take no responsibility if you need dental work after enjoying them. I limit my consumption by leaving them off my shopping list! Somehow they still find their way into my house.

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