How to Use Beeswax

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By christianmom
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Bar of Beeswax

Beeswax has been used for years to make candles. Candles made from beeswax burn an average of twice as long as the traditional wax candles. Beeswax comes from the hives of honey bees. It is what the hive is made from and what honey is stored in. Beeswax has been used for centuries in a number of ways. In fact, the Magna Carta was closed with a seal made from beeswax. In the last hundred years, beeswax has mostly been used commercially for candles and makeup products. While these are great uses, beeswax can also be used around the house in a number of ways. Consider the top five uses for beeswax around the house.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Linseed oil
Turpentine
Towel or rag
Neatsfoot oil
Tallow
Mineral oil

Step 1

Polish your furniture with beeswax since it is made from natural woods. You simply mix a solution of equal parts, linseed oil, turpentine, and beeswax. Heat the ingredients together until warm and apply with a soft rag or towel to your furniture. Rug the mixture vigorously in the same way you would when waxing a floor until the surface is smooth and shiny.
Step 2

Preserve copper and bronze items. If you have a copper sink or a bronze piece of art in your home, beeswax can be used to stop the oxidation and tarnish from appearing. When sealing a copper item, you should take softened beeswax and rub it gently on the surface. You can then use towel or rag to buff the surface and remove any excess beeswax. When you are working with bronze, you will want to melt a third pound of beeswax in a quart of turpentine. You can then rub on the liquid solution until a hard surface forms during drying.
Step 3

Waterproof leather jackets and furniture. Beeswax can be used to naturally waterproof and leather items. You can make furniture, coats, and even work boots waterproof with a simple homemade solution. Mix together neatsfoot oil, tallow, and beeswax in equal parts in a sauce pan. Heat the ingredients until they are slightly warm and rub the mixture generously on any leather surface. Make sure you cover the entire surface in order to make the item waterproof.
Step 4

Make windows open smoothly. If you have older wooden windows, you can make them slide open and closed like they did when they were new. Simply take a piece of beeswax and rub it up and down the sash of the window. This will naturally lubricate the wood and make the sliding go much smoother. You could also use this method for older wooden drawers that stick when you are trying to open them. Rub the beeswax on the inner drawer slides and all sticking should cease.
Step 5

Prevent cutting boards from soaking up germs. Many television shows have proven that cutting boards can be the dirtiest place in the kitchen. A washed and dried cutting board can hold more germs than the items originally cut on it. However, you can use a ½ tsp of beeswax mixed with a cup of mineral oil to seal a cutting board and keep out the germs. Simply mix the ingredients together and microwave until warm. You can then apply the mixture with a cloth or pour it over the board and spread it around with a cloth.