How to Make Beeswax Wraps at Home | All You Need to Know

Feb 6

4 min read

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Introduction:

Looking for a simple, eco-friendly way to reduce plastic waste in your kitchen? Beeswax wraps are the perfect alternative to single-use plastic wrap! Not only are they made from all-natural materials, but they’re also reusable, compostable, and super easy to make at home. With just a few basic tools and ingredients, you can create your own beeswax wraps and start embracing a more sustainable lifestyle. We tested a few different methods, and in this guide, we’ll share our personal experience and what worked best for us.

Tools You’ll Need:

Materials and tools for crafting homemade beeswax wraps: colorful fabrics, a tape measure, pinking shears, beeswax pellets and a paint brush.

Before you get started, gather these simple tools and materials. Each item plays a key role in making your beeswax wraps effective, durable, and easy to use. We tested different options and found these to work best for even wax distribution and long-lasting results.

Item	Note
100% Cotton Sheets	Choose cotton or linen fabric as they absorb beeswax well and are compostable at the end of their life.
Beeswax Beads or Block	We found that beads are easier to distribute evenly, while a block needs to be broken up or grated.
Pinking Shears	Prevents fabric from fraying. Regular fabric shears will work, but you may need to hem the edges.
Baking Tray	Used to heat and melt the wax into the fabric.
Baking Paper	Protects your tray from wax buildup and prevents sticking
Paint Brush	Helps spread melted wax evenly across the fabric.
Drying Rack or Washing Line	For drying your wraps after waxing.

Advantages of Using Beeswax Wraps:

Eco-Friendly Alternative – Reduces reliance on plastic wrap, helping to cut down on waste.
Non-Toxic & Natural – Free from harmful chemicals found in plastic.
Cost-Effective – Reusable and long-lasting, with proper care lasting up to a year.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Choose & Cut Your Fabric

Cotton fabric sheets displayed neatly and cut into smaller squares to be made into bees wax wraps.

Select 100% cotton or linen fabric. These materials absorb beeswax well and are compostable. In our case, we opted to use cotton. Cut them into various sizes based on your needs—what we did was take our largest bowl as a reference for the biggest wrap size we wanted and then cut smaller pieces a few inches down from that as well.

Step 2: Prepare Your Fabric

Bees wax wraps with a floral pattern are placed on a baking tray, ready for the melting process.

Lay a sheet of baking paper on your baking tray. Place your fabric pieces on top, ensuring they fit within the tray’s size. It is best for the fabric to be completely flat to ensure you get an even coat of beeswax.

Step 3: Sprinkle the Beeswax

Beeswax beads scattered over citrus-printed cotton fabric, ready for crafting an eco-friendly wrap.

Distribute beeswax beads evenly over the fabric. We found that a tablespoon and a half was enough for a 10-inch x 10-inch (25cm x 25cm) square. Leave some for when you flip the sheet.

Step 4: Melt the Wax

Beeswax beads melt in the oven, infusing vibrant cotton fabric with a natural coating for an eco-friendly wrap.

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place the tray in the oven and let the wax melt. This happens quickly, so keep an eye on it! Once melted, use a paintbrush to spread the wax evenly across the fabric. Flip the sheet over and add the remainder of the beeswax beads.

Note: We also tried the boiler method using the stove, a pot, boiling water, and a glass bowl, but found it to be time-consuming and still required the oven. However, with professional equipment, the boiler method might be preferred.

Step 5: Repeat & Brush Again

Applying melted beeswax to colorful cotton fabric sheets with a brush for an even finish.

Place the tray back in the oven to melt the remaining wax, then remove and brush the fabric again for even coverage.

Step 6: Drying Your Wraps

Colorful beeswax wraps with vibrant fruit and checkered patterns drying on a rack.

Carefully remove the wraps from the tray using tongs or by lifting the corners (wax will be hot!). We liked to gently wave the fabric sheet in the air for a few seconds as we found this helps the wax set better into the fabric, then placed them on a drying rack or washing line. Ours dried completely within about three minutes.

Note: Beeswax gets extremely hot once melted, so be cautious when handling straight from the oven!

Step 7: Check for Uneven Spots

If you notice any unwaxed areas, simply reapply beeswax and repeat steps 3–6.

Step 8: Use & Enjoy!

A container is neatly wrapped in a colorful beeswax wrap featuring a vibrant pattern of oranges and leaves, resting on a wooden surface.

Before using your wraps, scrunch them in your hands to make them more flexible. We found that this helps them stick better as your body heat helps soften the beeswax, when wrapping food items or covering bowls.

Things to Avoid Wrapping:

Foods that stain (like turmeric or berries)
Hot items (wax can melt)
Raw meat (due to hygiene concerns)

How to Clean Your Beeswax Wraps:

Cleaning a beeswax wrap using eco-friendly dish soap under cold running water in the kitchen sink.

Simply wash your beeswax wraps only in cold water with a small amount of dish soap. Never use hot water, as it will melt the wax over time. We highly recommend using an eco-friendly dish soap to keep things sustainable! 😉

Conclusion:

Making your own beeswax wraps is a fun and rewarding way to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. We loved experimenting with different methods and found the oven method to be the simplest and most effective. Not only will you reduce waste, but you’ll also save money in the long run!

If you have already given this a shot yourself, let us know how it went for you and if you found any hacks that we can try on our next batch!