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 6+ 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 40+ things you can make with beeswax. If you're looking for a source of hand-filtered beeswax, check out our Astor Apiaries Beeswax, produced here in the USA.
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.
Whip Up a Batch of Canelés
These French pastries are crunchy on the outside, custardy on the inside and delicious all-around. Traditionally, the special molds are coated in beeswax and butter and then frozen before the batter is added and baked, which helps give the treats their special shape and crisp exterior.
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.
Make Your Own Lip Balm
Beeswax is frequently used in cosmetics thanks to its ability to lock in moisture all day. This makes it ideal for keeping your chapped lips nice and moisturized.
Body Butter
Skip the chemicals and keep your skin nice and supple with homemade beeswax body butter.
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.
Batik
Batiking is a method of fabric dyeing in which the fabric not intended to be dyed is covered with removable wax. The ideal mixture for batik preparation is 30 percent beeswax and 70 percent paraffin, creating the perfect batik wax mixture.
Ukrainian Egg Decorating
A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist (batik) method. The word pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, “to write,” as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax.
Cheese Waxing
If you produce your own cheese, beeswax is the best natural cover for cheeses. If the cheese is wet, you will need to let it dry before applying the hot wax. This is to ensure a proper seal because the wax will not adhere to wet surfaces. Beeswax works well for sealing because it has a low melting point.
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.
DIY Beeswax Modeling Clay
Modeling clay made from beeswax and plant dyes makes a natural and non-toxic craft. When warmed in your hands to a soft consistency, beeswax modeling clay easily forms into shapes. To preserve your sculpted creations, let the beeswax cool and keep it away from heat.
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.
Grafting Wax For Fruit Trees
If you are planning on establishing an orchard, one of the best (and least expensive) ways to propagate fruit trees is to graft them. Grafting wax comes into play, as you will want to protect the grafted scion from drying out.
Beeswax To Seal Your Mushroom Plugs
Just as with grafting trees, your mushroom plugs can also benefit from a bit of sealing with pure, melted beeswax. The wax will protect the spawn from dying out and enhance your chances of fungi success.
Beeswax Lipstick
If you are into wearing lipstick, something with a pop of natural color, it is no harder than making lip balm.
Beeswax Eyeliner
we are talking about makeup that is applied right next to the eyes. Especially if you are avoiding chemicals, for health or allergy reasons, it is good to know that it is easy to make your own.To achieve a deep black color, all you need is activated charcoal, along with beeswax, coconut oil and distilled water.
Hard Lotion Bars
If your hands (feet or knees!) tend to get dry and cracked, it is about time for you to try a handmade lotion bar. It is the absolute best replacement for petroleum jelly – just in case you were looking for one.
Beeswax Bug Bite & Sting Balm
Rather than itching that bite, however, you should embrace something more gentle and soothing, which also happens to be all natural and suitable for kids too.
Mustache Wax
For all the men out there newly sporting a beard or a mustache, it is wise to know that you can maintain that natural look with all natural ingredients.
Beeswax Scar Salve
When you are having minor cuts, scrapes and bruises from time to time, it is also important to heal quickly and get on with your chores. Mix some herbs with olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, essential oils and vitamin E, and you can gift yourself a small pot of healing cream.
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.
Beeswax Ornaments
With a series of clay molds, you can quickly make as many beeswax ornaments as you need, with plenty to spare for gifts.
Beeswax Bowls
While hand-dipped beeswax candles are necessary to have around, in case of a power outage, or the need for a candlelight dinner, beeswax bowls are a simple luxury.
Beeswax Coated Autumn Leaves
Coat colorful leaves in beeswax to preserve them. They look nice and smell wonderful.
Homemade Deodorant
It helps form a natural protective moisture barrier. This means it helps avoid sweat stains on clothes without the need for harmful and unnecessary chemicals.
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.
Baby Diaper Rash Cream
It serves as a thickener and because it provides a protective barrier for the skin while helping the other beneficial ingredients stay on the skin so they can have a greater effect on clearing up the rash.
Soothe Cracked Heels
A simple salve of beeswax, coconut oil, and magnesium makes a great remedy for cracked heels.
Cold & Flu Relief
Homemade natural vapor rub helps when coughing and congestion hit and provides some relief without slathering petroleum jelly all over your skin. Frequent nose blowing during illness can wreak havoc on the tender skin around your nose. This sore nose soothing balm recipe combines herb-infused oil with beeswax and shea butter for a healing, nourishing balm.