How To Make DIY Reusable Beeswax Wraps
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There has been a whole lot of buzz lately about DIY reusable beeswax wraps. People want sustainable, eco-friendly products to help reduce the use of plastic.
I have been hearing a lot about DIY reusable beeswax wraps and the benefits as an alternative to plastic wrap.
I did some research and this is what I found.
Where do you get beeswax wraps?
You can buy them in stores, online, Amazon, Etsy, E-Bay, and the list goes on. They come in all sizes, shapes, patterns. Being curious, I ordered a set of beeswax wraps from Amazon to see what they were like. I thought, wow, this was something I could make myself and it would be a fun and educational DIY project.
What are beeswax wraps?
Making DIY reusable beeswax wraps are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap.
These reusable wraps are made from organic cotton infused with beeswax, pine rosin, and jojoba oil. All of these ingredients combined create a malleable food wrap that can be used over and over.
How do you make a beeswax wrap?
I found a company online called the Organic Fabric Company where I bought my material. They have an excellent selection of fabric and prints to choose from and they ship worldwide.
It’s best to get organic cotton or quilting cotton as this material has a tight weave to it. The store where I purchased my organic cotton had a large selection of prints and sizes to choose from. I purchased quilting cotton (fat quarters) that were already pre-cut.
Next, I looked at tutorials and videos to see the different methods used to make beeswax wraps. There were two methods that I came across that I liked.
First Method:
The first method involved placing the fabric on a large baking sheet. You then sprinkle the material with grated beeswax and then place it in an oven until the wax melted. You can use a small paintbrush to smooth out the wax.
Second Method:
The second method used beeswax pellets, pine rosin, and jojoba oil. You place the fabric on a large piece of parchment paper. You then spread the beeswax pellets, pine rosin, and a few drops of jojoba oil across the material. Another piece of parchment paper is placed on top. You then iron over the material on low-medium heat, until the beeswax wax melts and is distributed evenly.
When adding the beeswax pellets onto your fabric, it is best to use less at first if you are not sure. You can always add more.
I read about different amounts of wax and rosin to use but I experimented and did a light sprinkle at first.
The pine gum rosin is granular and could be messy. I found an old spice jar with the holes in it and filled it up with the granular pine rosin. It made the process so much easier to spread it without overdoing it.
Beeswax Pellets
When adding the beeswax pellets onto your fabric, it is best to use less at first if you are not sure. You can always add more.
I read about different amounts of wax and rosin to use but I experimented and did a light sprinkle at first.
Pine Gum Rosin
The pine gum rosin is granular and could be messy. I found an old spice jar with the holes in it and filled it up with the granular pine rosin. My girlfriend who was doing it with me came up with the idea and it worked awesomely. It made the process so much easier to spread it without overdoing it.
Jojoba Oil
As for the jojoba oil, I used a few drops, depending on the size of the wrap. I did a large wrap 17×22 to use for homemade bread and I must say we were very happy with our results. I did a trial on a few smaller circular sizes, so by the time we did the large beeswax wrap, we were more comfortable with the amounts used. It worked out great. We took the smaller wraps and used it to cover a bowl and it molded to the shape of the bowl.
It was a lot of fun and I learned so much. Beeswax wraps are easy to make and very cheap. There are different methods of making it but I am glad I chose this method as it turned out very well.
What You Will Need:
- Beeswax pellets.
- Pine rosin powder.
- Organic jojoba oil.
- Parchment paper.
- An old iron you can dedicate to your project.
- Organic cotton quilting fabric.
- Pinking shears for cutting so the fabric doesn’t fray.
- Measuring tape or plate for circular patterns.
Sizes and Uses:
You can make DIY reusable beeswax wraps in any size or pattern according to your specific needs. For this project, I chose to make larger sizes for wrapping my homemade bread and baking items. Popular sizes are 7×8, 10×11, and 13×14 inches but you can really make any size. I made a wrap 21×18 inches and it works great for wrapping my homemade bread or alternately you can purchase one here on Amazon.
The possibilities of what you can wrap are endless. You can wrap cheese, celery, carrots, lettuce, fresh herbs, bread, baked goods, nuts, a small snack, or cover a bowl or jar. What ideas do you have for wrapping in your beeswax wrap?
Instructions:
- Measure the fabric according to the size that you want.
- You can use pinking shears (they have a jagged edge) when you are cutting the material as it gives it a nicer edge. It will also stop it from fraying.
- Lay parchment paper down and lay your fabric on top of the parchment paper.
- Sprinkle the fabric with beeswax pellets, pine rosin and a few drops of jojoba oil. A ratio of about 2 parts beeswax to 1 part pine rosin works, but you may want to experiment to see what works best for you.
- Lay another piece of parchment paper on top of the fabric. On low-medium heat, iron the fabric until the beeswax has melted and spread evenly over the material. With the iron, you can start in the middle and push the melted wax out to the edges so it soaks into your material.
- Peel the parchment paper off of the fabric and lay it on a rack to dry.
- It will only take seconds to dry and then it is ready to use.
Step-By-Step Pictures:
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Dear Seasidesteps
You have a very informative blog, clear and easy to follow. Thanks
Thank you! Glad you are enjoying it!
Can you reuse the parchment paper for multiple wraps, or do new squares for each?
Good question. This is something I have not tried yet. If you have parchment that has only a small residue of wax left it would just melt back into the fabric when you make a new one. Give it a try but I think if you have a lot of wax left on your parchment just toss it and use a clean square.
Thank you! I’m excited to try this! How do you care for these once they are finished. Do you hand wash them after you are finished with wrapping food? I have never used beeswax wraps but I’m looking to make my own and switch. Thank you again!
Beeswax wraps are a lot of fun to make. Caring for the wraps is super easy. You simply rinse under the tap with coolish water, and mild soap if needed, to rinse off any food residue. Hang on a rack or over something so it can dry. I use mine to wrap cheese and keep it in the fridge. The other thing I use it for is to wrap my homemade sourdough bread and keep it on the counter.
I looked at this recipe and thought how I’ve done when waterproofing clothes. I first melt and mix the different waxes and oils together, and let it cool. Then I take the cooled wax piece and rub it all over the fabric, in two directions crossing each other. Then I heat it in, either using a hairdryer, a heat gun or a heating iron.
I think maybe that creating the mix first will make it easier to be precise with the ratios. Of course, also easier to make too much of it 🙂
Hi, thx for sharing your post. Could I ask what the purpose of the rosin and jojoba oil is in making the wraps? Thx!
Hi Barbara,
Thanks, you are welcome.
The jojoba oil acts as a natural antibacterial and also helps keep the wrap soft. The pine resin adds to the tackiness or sticky factor of the wrap. You use the warmth from your hands to shape or mold the wrap around a container. You can most certainly do the wrap with the beeswax only but from what I read the wrap is not as pliable and won’t stick to itself. For that reason, that is why I decided to use the beeswax wrap, pine rosin, and jojoba oil the first time and I am very happy with my results. I guess it just comes down to personal preference as to how you want to make them.
Sheila
Hi… do you only put the beeswax, rosin and jojoba oil on one side of the fabric?
Thx 🙂
Yes, Denette, you are correct. You only need to do it on one side because when you use a hot iron the beeswax will melt and soak into the fabric. I have only tried one method and that is using the hot iron with the fabric between two pieces of parchment paper and it worked beautifully for me. You may want to try a sample piece of material to see how it spreads but it’s actually very easy. I suggest starting in the middle of the fabric and slowly working the iron out to the edges and you will see how the wax melts and soaks through the fabric.
Have fun with it!
Sheila
These look great, but how do you clean them?I assume they are washable?
Hi Wendy,
You can simply wipe down the beeswax wrap with a damp cloth or sponge using cool running water under the tap. Also, depending on what you have wrapped, you can use a bit of gentle soap to clean and rinse with cool water.
Sheila
I’ve read that the rosin smells like pine and may leave an unpleasant taste. Have you found this to be true
Kind regards
Lynne
Hi Lynne,
To be quite honest, I never really noticed a pine smell with the rosin I have. Perhaps some brands have a stronger odor than others. I also use a very light sprinkle and have not experienced any unpleasant taste. I use an old spice jar to sprinkle the rosin on and it goes on easier and more even than if I were to use a spoon or my fingers.
Hope that helps.
Sheila
Where do you get the beeswax pellets and the rosin?
Hi Nancy,
I sourced those items from Amazon. My post on how to make DIY beeswax wraps shows the exact items I used.
Hope that helps.
Sheila