Spring cleaning is almost here! If you’re visiting my blog, then I know you’re looking for a less-toxic solution to many of your favorite cleaning products and I’ve created a homemade beeswax polish which is a natural alternative to toxic wood polish just for you. You will need beeswax, olive oil and a few essential oils like for example Eucalyptus essential oil.
Commercial wood polish products are packed with chemicals and synthetic compounds that coat your furniture – and then affect your health and that of anyone else in the house! These chemicals include:
Due to the nature of polish, these compounds usually sit on the top of the furniture surfaces in your house, where your kids, pets, and others come into regular contact with them. You may be at the most risk, because as you polish the wood yourself, you are likely inhaling these toxins, increasing your exposure!
Homemade furniture polish is the go-to solution for those of us who want to avoid all of those nasty chemicals (and who wouldn’t?!). Making your own furniture polish is easy, cost-effective and safe to use. You will find that you get more bang for your buck, plus the essential oils in this recipe will leave your furniture smelling way better than commercial products ever did.
Beeswax is harvested from the bees’ honeycomb and has natural protective qualities when it comes to wood. It helps to enhance and preserve the wood’s natural tone and color while creating a smooth protective covering to protect its texture.
Organic olive oil is made from the natural fats in olives and is high in minerals and healthy fats that keep wood conditioned and more resilient to scratches.
Eucalyptus essential oil is made from the eucalyptus tree. Beyond its refreshing scent, eucalyptus oil contains antioxidants that protect the wood and preserve the beeswax and olive oil in this recipe.
Frankincense essential oil is made from the sap of the Boswellia carteri tree. It smells amazing and helps to preserve the rich tones in wood furniture.
Cedarwood Atlas is an essential oil made from the wood of Atlas cedar trees in Northern Africa. It is a natural wood preservative and also helps to cleanse the wood as you polish it.
Wipe down wood furniture with a dry lint-catching rag, or a slightly damp cloth. Then, remove some of the beeswax furniture polish on a conditioning cloth, and rub into the wood.
Working into the wood in small circular motions until the entire area has been covered. Let sit for a few minutes, then resume use of furniture as usual!
What are your thoughts on this Beeswax Polish recipe? Please let me know in the comments below!
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View Comments
Hello Eve, greetings from Bonnie Scotland!
I love your recipe but would you please give me the weight of the beeswax?
I'm a beekeeper and have blocks of beeswax not pellets
Thank you..Avril.x
Hi Bonnie from Scotland :-)
The easiest thing you can do is just grate your beeswax and use teaspoon to measure it as per the recipe!
Thank you for all your solutiuons and help in this world of toxins. For some reason my screen is not showing the amounts needed to make beeswax wax. I live in a very damp area and get alot of mold and mildew on wood furniture. After using Murphys Oil Soap I need a strong polish to seal the wood again. This sounds like just what I need. Love your new website. Much more informational. Thank you.
Thank you Mary, here is the recipe below and also a link you can print https://www.organic-beauty-recipes.com/easyrecipe-print/5411-0/
Ingredients
3 tablespoons of beeswax pellets
15 tablespoons of organic olive oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops of frankincense essential oil
10 drops of cedarwood atlas essential oil
Instructions
Melt beeswax and organic olive oil in a double boiler.
Once melted, remove from heat and add the essential oils.
Mix well.
Pour immediately into a glass container and put in the fridge until the wax has solidified.
Hi, Eve, thank you for this recipe! I'm planning to make it today, as I have everything on hand. Just one question: can you tell me how many ounces or grams 15 T. of olive oil weighs? Thanks very much for all of your good work!
Thanks Jannalee :-)
1 tablespoon of oil (canola or soy) weighs 13.62 grams so 15 tablespoons = 204 grams.
Is there any problem with putting it in a metal tin?
Can other essential oils be substituted for frankincense and cedarwood. I have sensitivities to these (particularly frankincense both may be able to manage with cedarwood - maybe), so coughing, scratchy throat, sneezing and watery eyes just aren't a pleasant proposition. I'm wondering if citrus (lemon & orange essentials) would work nicely with the eucalyptus (both scent and effectiveness), or if they would counteract the effects of the eucalyptus. Another thought was sweet almond & vanilla. Two very different combinations, aren't they? Just don't know how they would work with the eucalyptus. But I've looked at a couple of recipes and I like this one - though I do prefer measuring by grams or ounces; it feels a bit more precise for a novice. Thanks so much for the recipe and all of your helpful information on the properties/effects of the oils. Very cool! Thanks!
I have the same sensitivities as yourself to frankincense and other strong scents. I would replace them all and just have the citrus and olive oils
nope, that would work just fine!
Just curious, I realize the beeswax will protect the furniture, but do you think over time the essential oils will start to break down the surface? I would much rather have a polish that’s healthier for sure, but just wondering about prolonged use and the affects over time. Thanks in advance ! I appreciate you taking the time to provide healthier options in a toxic world !!
Hi Wendy, you are using a small amount of essential oils here so they will not affect the wood. If you prefer you can just omit the essential oil altogether.