You know, there's something special about bringing out the natural beauty of wood furniture with a bit of elbow grease and a good polish. But instead of grabbing a bottle of that store-bought chemical-laden polish, I've been experimenting with my own beeswax furniture polish recipe.
PinWhy I Make My Own Cleaners and Beauty Products
I prefer to keep things natural in my home as much as possible. We like to use natural ingredients instead of commercial products, make things myself, and save money, too.
I started by making my own goat milk soaps several years ago. Next, the girls and I made harvest spiced lip balm.
This summer, we also experimented with DIY bug spray, and DIY sunscreen too. And just last week, we made peppermint foot scrub.
DIY Cleaners
PinIn addition to beauty products, I'm gradually replacing our store-bought cleaners with homemade ones.
Last winter, the kids and I started by making our own pine vinegar cleaner. And then we moved on to DIY toilet bombs, too.
So I decided that now it's time to make my own furniture polish. (Watch for my wood butter coming later this month, too.)
Those off-the-shelf polishes might make your wooden furniture shine, but they're often packed with chemicals I'd rather not breathe in. Making my own beeswax polish with olive oil is a way to ensure I'm not introducing anything harmful into my home.
According to historical records and as mentioned by Stanford University, beeswax has been used for centuries to polish wood. Plus, it works wonders on wood surfaces. It's like giving your furniture a mini spa treatment – and who doesn't want that?
Ingredients for Beeswax Furniture Polish Recipe
PinThis recipe uses simple ingredients. The list includes just three items, and you might already have these in your pantry.
The main ingredients are olive oil and beeswax pellets, and I add essential oil for a fresh scent.
- Olive Oil: This is the moisturizer in our polish. Just like it does wonders for our skin, it does the same for wood, keeping it from drying out.
- Beeswax Pellets: The beeswax is the protector. It seals in the olive oil and adds durability and a subtle glow to the furniture.
- Essential Oil: Here's where you can get creative. I love a dash of lavender and basil for a scent that makes the whole room feel clean and fresh.
⬇️Want the printable recipe card? It's at the bottom of this post.⬇️
How to Make Natural Beeswax Furniture Polish
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PinHere's how to make this simple recipe.
- I combine the beeswax and olive oil in a jar – no extra dishes to wash.
- The mason jar goes into a pan of water on the stove, and I heat it on medium heat until everything's melted together.
- After that, I stir in my essential oils for that lovely scent.
- Then, I just set it aside to cool down and solidify. And voilà, it's ready to use!
It's honestly that simple. The best part? You've made a natural polish, so you know it's good.
Buffing Up The Wooden Surfaces in Your Home
PinUsing this polish is just as straightforward as making it. First, I give the entire furniture surface a good wipe with an old t-shirt or microfiber cloth to remove dust or crumbs.
Then, I scoop a little polish out, rub a thin layer in with a soft cloth, and buff it up to a nice shine. It's pretty satisfying to see that natural wood grain come to life, and it's all thanks to a polish that's got nothing but good stuff in it.
Answering Your Burning Questions
PinI typically get a lot of questions about our homemade cleaners. If you don't see your question here, just leave a comment and I'll answer as soon as I can.
How Do I Keep My Beeswax Furniture Polish Fresh?
You can expect your homemade polish to stay in tip-top shape for a long time, about 18 to 24 months, basically as long as the olive oil's shelf life. Just store it in an airtight container somewhere cool and dry, and it'll be ready whenever your furniture needs a pick-me-up.
Can I Swap Out the Olive Oil?
Absolutely. If olive oil isn't your thing or you just don't have it on hand, feel free to experiment with coconut oil, almond oil, walnut oil or jojoba oil. Each one has its own benefits and might change the texture or scent of your polish a bit, but that's part of the fun.
Tip: I also make our own wood butter, which is a bit thicker than this polish. I use two kinds of essential oil in it, and also coconut oil instead of olive oil. Wood butter works well for polishing wood items used in your homestead kitchen.
Can I use This Beeswax Polish on Wooden Spoons?
Yes, indeed, if you use food grade beeswax pellets.
What If My Polish Isn't the Right Consistency?
Don't sweat it. If your homemade furniture polish feels too stiff, melt it on your stove top or in your microwave and blend in a little more oil. Then, let the mixture cool and give it a try. Too soft? Add a few more beeswax pellets. You can tweak it until the combination of beeswax and oil is perfect for your climate and wood.
Make Your Own Beeswax Polish
Rolling up our sleeves and making something as simple and wholesome as this beeswax furniture polish recipe feels like a small victory. Not only does it keep our homes free of unnecessary and potentially toxic chemicals, but it also puts us in control of what we're using every day.
And by the way, if you've enjoyed this post, you've got to check out the other homemade cleaners here at An Off Grid Life.
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PinDIY Beeswax Furniture Polish Recipe
Yield: 4 ounces
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Discover a natural DIY beeswax furniture polish recipe that's simple to make and gives a healthy shine to your wood.
Materials
- 1 cup Olive oil
- ¼ cup Beeswax pellets
- 8-10 drops of essential oil
Tools
- A small pot
- Stirring utensil
- Measuring cup
Instructions
- I like to keep things simple and not add extra work, so that being said I make my furniture cleaner and polish right in the jar I will be using.
- Place beeswax and olive oil in your jar.
- Set the jar in a pan of hot water a little more than halfway up the jar. Alternatively, use a double boiler.
- Heat over medium-high heat until the contents melt. (Note: You could also melt it in the microwave, heat for 1 minute, then repeat, adding 30 seconds and stirring until it's completely melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in essential oils well. My favorite combo is lavender basil for a clean, fresh scent.
- Screw the lid back on and set the jar aside to cool; it will solidify but still be somewhat soft. If your home or wherever you keep it is warmer than room temperature, you may find it softens a bit more. That is perfectly fine.
Notes
To use:
Wipe your surface down with a rag and spray if needed to remove surface crumbs, jelly, etc. Use a small amount of the furniture polish on the wood and rub gently with a clean, soft towel.
Olive oil is generally good for 18-24 months, so your natural wood polish should last about that long.
