Maintaining your furniture is vital if you intend to continue enjoying its brilliant look for a long time. One surefire way to achieve this is by polishing the piece. Wood surfaces require finishing to keep the shine on, protect the material and enhance its beauty, whether it is antique furniture, wooden floor, or cabinets.
It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to recover old furniture, repair damaged pieces or finish a new wooden fixture; you’ll need polish. Beeswax is among the materials you can use to polish your wood furniture, with its natural quality setting it apart.
Beeswax offers a safe and appealing option to use on your furniture and doesn’t contain chemicals and preservatives that come with most furniture polish.
If you have new or old furniture you would like to polish, taking some time to understand one of the most widely used furniture polishes in beeswax will prove beneficial. This guide discusses everything you need to know about beeswax furniture polish so that you can make an informed decision about using beeswax.
What is Beeswax Furniture Polish?
Beeswax furniture polish is a natural formula made of wax and oil and, in some cases, water and emulsifiers. It enhances, cleans, and polishes wooden surfaces using its unique combination of furniture waxes and oils. The beeswax is also easy to apply, and its clear version does not change the furniture color.
Coating your furniture with beeswax gives it an impressive natural-looking finish that brings out its beauty regardless of age. Beeswax covers the wood to form a glossy surface that maintains the natural wooden look underneath. It is perfect for your antique wood, cabinets, chairs, and tables.
The main ingredient in this formula is beeswax, a natural wax from bees. While beeswax can be used on various surfaces, some have better absorbent quality, helping the wax penetrate more. Furniture made from yew, walnut, pine, teak, mahogany, and oak produces the best results with beeswax.
How to Make Natural Beeswax Furniture Polish?
So many beeswax products are available in the market from which you can choose. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, making your beeswax as a DIYer is relatively straightforward. Its ease is impressive, as you can complete the process in less than an hour. If you go through the DIY route, you must decide the type of materials you choose, including the quality of beeswax to purchase. So let’s see the ingredients you need:
1. Ingredients
The two primary ingredients required to make beeswax furniture polish are beeswax and mineral or olive oil. But it would help if you decided on their sources as it affects the beeswax’s quality. Here’s what you must know about the materials:
Natural Beeswax
Where you source your beeswax will considerably affect the quality of your plush, so you want to take this seriously. Running a beehive gets easier as you control the wax production; otherwise, you need to consider some factors.
It would be best to consider where the wax comes from and whether it is directly from beekeepers, farmers, or a store. The beeswax’s purity is another point to check before buying. An often confusing element is the tag “organic” used for most beeswax because, based on the laws in countries like the USA and Canada, getting organic beeswax is extremely difficult.
Everything the bees perch on must be organic before any beeswax can be tagged as organic. It includes all the trees and flowers they pollinate. The area can span up to three miles in all directions. It’s quite a challenge; showing you most of the beeswax with organic tags is false.
Food Grade Mineral Oil
You must ensure that the mineral oil you choose is food grade so you can utilize them on table tops and kitchen surfaces. Mineral oil has been the conventional material for wood conditioning. But as a petroleum-based product, some people would prefer other alternatives. Coconut oil is an excellent all-natural alternative to mineral oil for mixing with beeswax.
2. Other Supplies
After getting the ingredients, you’ll need other supplies to complete the procedure. These are typically the equipment used to make the polish.
- A Double Boiler: It provides a safe way to melt the wax on a stovetop, with the water acting as a buffer between the boiler and wax to prevent a fire
- A Wooden Spoon: You’ll need a wooden spoon or skewer to stir the wax. Ensure you utilize a spoon you don’t mind mixing with the wax.
- A Container: Choose a jar with a broader top, as it is easier to reach the polish during application. An 8 oz wide-mouth mason jar is a popular option for this project.
3. Steps
With the supplies and ingredients out of the way, Here are the simple steps to follow to make a DIY beeswax furniture polish:
Melt The Wax
First, place the double boiler on a stove and pour about one inch of water. Place a pan with the beeswax on the double boiler and let it melt. You should periodically stir the material so it melts evenly.
Add The Mineral Oil
Add the mineral oil to the melted wax and stir until the two ingredients mix. To do while the wax is still warm and melted.
Pour Into a Jar
After mixing the liquid, pour the hot material into your 8 oz wide-mouth mason jar for storage. Leave it for about 1 to 2 hours to cool into a semi-solid state, and it is ready to use.
How to Refinish Furniture With Beeswax?
Beeswax furniture polish is highly versatile and can be used on new furniture, to repair damaged pieces, and to refinish old wooden fixtures. For DIYers, however, refinishing old furniture is the most prevalent use of beeswax furniture polish. Here’s how to achieve this:
1. Prepare The Wood
Preparing the wood involves thoroughly cleaning the surface. The suitable cleaning material depends on if you’re removing paint. To only clean, use a paint thinner and a clean cloth to wipe the surface. It’ll remove wax and dirt buildup. If you intend to remove paint, you’ll need an all-natural paint removal. After cleaning, leave the wood to dry for about two hours.
2. Apply Beeswax Furniture Polish
You’ll need a clean, dry, and lint-free cloth to scoop and apply the polish on the wood surface. Use a circular motion to rub the beeswax on the entire surface, and then use long swipes along the grains to massage the glue into the wood. Leave the polish for about 20 minutes to sink into the pores.
3. Buff The Wood
Buffering the wood to increase its shine and smoothen the wax is essential. Use a fresh, clean, lint-free cloth to wipe the surface in the direction of the grain. You want to remove any excess beeswax in the corners for a consistent application. Allow the beeswax to cure for an entire day before using the furniture.
Pros And Cons of Beeswax Furniture Polish
There are always cases for and against using polishes like beeswax on your furniture. You must decide if the pros trump the cons as it guides your decision.
Pros
- It is Easy to Use: Beeswax is a soft wax that makes it easy to apply and reapply on your furniture surface. A lint-free cloth makes the application straightforward and does not leave fuzz on the wood.
- Decent Scratch and Water Resistance: Applying the wax improves your furniture’s durability by providing good water and scratch resistance. It is, however, not entirely water resistant but offers decent protection.
- Provides a Beautiful Finish: The protective layer the wax forms gives it a vibrant look without altering the natural wood look. It is a natural, non-synthetic wax that will beautify your wood, protect the surface and retain its color.
- Environmentally-Friendly: The wax is environmentally friendly and safe to use as it is made up of natural beeswax, food-grade mineral oil, or the more natural coconut oil. This way, you can safely use the wax to coat kitchen surfaces and tables.
Cons
- Difficult to Remove: Beeswax penetrates the wood’s pores helping it form a protective surface; however, this also means it is difficult to remove when required.
- Reduced Durability: Beeswax’s durability is lower compared to other finishing materials. It only offers a decent level of scratch and water resistance, so it will not contain continued exposure to moisture or deep scratches.
- Recurring Reapplication: Due to its lack of durability, you’re forced to reapply beeswax more frequently than others. You’ll need to reapply the beeswax to retain its shine.
FAQ’s
Check this section for questions and answers about beeswax as a furniture polish.
Ans: Beeswax does not change the color of wood, which is among the many advantages of using wax. It enhances the wood’s tone helping to keep the grains visible.
Ans: Beeswax can be used outdoors but is unsuitable for prolonged moisture exposure. It only features a decent moisture resistance level. However, it offers some excellent outdoor features, like being antifungal while protecting against mold and mildew growth.
Ans: It depends on the ingredients used to make the wax. Using natural beeswax and food-grade oils will make a food-safe wax. Where in doubt, check the label and contact the manufacturer for clarity.
Conclusion
Beeswax is a safe, affordable, and easy-to-use polish used to coat furniture. As a DIYer, you can make this wax in under an hour by following its simple recipe. You can also purchase from popular beeswax brands to coat new furniture, refinish old furniture, and repair damaged pieces.
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