How to Make Furniture Wax

If you're a true do-it-yourself homemaker, you'll be interested to know how easy it is to make your own common household cleaners and polishes from scratch. Most of these home recipes consist of only two or three ingredients, and mixing them up yourself gives you the confidence of knowing precisely what's inside. This recipe makes a nice, big batch of furniture wax that will keep your wooden furniture shining even better than the store-bought versions can.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. of yellow beeswax
• 1 pint of turpentine
• 1 pint of boiled linseed oil
• Large cooking pot
• Large glass bowl
• Water
• Kitchen range
• Large airtight container
• Large pitcher or container for mixing
• Wooden spoon
• Pot holders
• Insulated hot dish pad

Instructions

1. Gather your materials. Turpentine is available at most hardware stores and even some grocery stores. Boiled linseed oil and yellow beeswax are typically available at hardware stores and craft and hobby stores. When choosing your cooking pot and bowl, pick sizes that will work together well as a double boiler.

2. Create a double boiler by putting the cooking pot on the stove and adding several inches of water. Place the glass bowl over the top of the pot to ensure that it's the right size. The right size bowl will be larger in diameter than the opening on the pot, allowing it to sit on top of the pot and be heated from underneath by the boiling water. When your double boiler is ready, remove the bowl and bring the water to a boil over high heat.

3. While the water is coming to a boil, combine one pint of turpentine with one pint of boiled linseed oil in a large pitcher and set the mixture aside.

4. Put the bowl over the cooking pot of boiling water. Add the chunks of beeswax to the bowl and allow them to melt down, stirring them occasionally with a wooden spoon. When the beeswax is completely melted, remove the bowl from the heat using pot holders and set it on an insulated pad. Allow the wax to cool for about two minutes.

5. Carefully and slowly pour the turpentine and linseed oil mixture into the bowl of cooling beeswax. Stir the mixture together thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

6. Pour the evenly blended mixture into a large, airtight container. Apply the fully cooled wax to furniture directly from this container and store it in a cool, dry place with the lid on tight.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply the wax to furniture using fine steel wool and buff it to a shine using a soft polishing cloth.

• Store the wax out of reach of children and pets. It will be hazardous to ingest.