Small swaps add up to big change, so consider trading your plastic wrap or aluminum foil for a DIY beeswax wrap! For this “recipe,” you can upcycle old (but clean) dishcloths, go to the thrift store and pick out a linen tablecloth with a funky pattern, or grab a stack of stylish eco-friendly dish towels. Whichever way you choose, making these easy (and dare we say stylish?) beeswax wraps is a great way to cut down on your single-use plastics.
Makes 2-3 12×12 inch wraps
Materials
- 1 yard 100% organic cotton fabric
- .35 oz pine resin
- 1.25 oz beeswax pastilles
- 1 Tbsp organic jojoba oil (We found the pine resin, beeswax, and jojoba oil at a natural grocery store, but you can also find them online.)
- Large popsicle stick
- Parchment paper
Equipment
- 1-2 inch wide paint brush
- Pair of scissors
- Large baking sheet
- Medium saucepan
Directions
- Wash and dry fabric. Cut fabric into 12×12 inch squares.
- Fill a saucepan with water and place pine resin, beeswax, and jojoba oil in a glass measuring cup and set in a saucepan. Fill the saucepan with water until the waterline reaches halfway up the measuring cup.
- Heat the water at medium-high heat and melt down ingredients, stirring occasionally with the popsicle stick, about 20-25 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 300° F.
- Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a piece of fabric over the parchment, back facing up. Brush beeswax mixture lightly over fabric.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven for 2 minutes to re-melt the wax coating. Remove from the oven and brush mixture over any dry spots. Try not to oversaturate with the wax mixture. You can even place the next piece of fabric on top of the first piece to soak up any extra coating mixture (you’ll want to work quickly so the wax doesn’t solidify).
- Leave completed wrap(s) rest on the parchment paper to dry completely.
- Repeat steps until the wraps are finished.
Extra Credit
- We’re in the bees-iness of making the world a little less wasteful. So check out our nifty grocery storage guide for all you need to know to keep your food fresh for longer.
How should these be cleaned for re-use? How often (or do you) retreat the cloth ?
We recommend hand washing your beeswax wrap with cold water and alcohol-free soap, then allowing them to air dry. In general, you’ll want to keep your beeswax wrap away from heat but to retreat the cloth you can simply toss them on a baking sheet and into the oven with the door open on low heat for about 2-3 minutes. This will help to remelt and distribute the wax, making your wraps look brand new again!
Can these be washed and re-used?
Absolutely! Cold water and an eco-friendly soap will do the trick 🙌
How do you clean these?
Running them under cold water with a bit of alcohol-free soap will clean them up beautifully! You can use a sponge to wipe them down, then allow them to air dry before putting them away 🙌
A great source of fabric for food wraps would be dollar store bandanas, or clearance “fat quarter” fabrics from a quilting shop.
Great idea! 💡
Thanks
Is there a substitute for jojoba oil?
Coconut oil or tea tree oil should work just fine as a substitute!
What purpose does the pine resin serve? Thanks!
The pine resin has antibacterial properties, and it is also water resistant!
Where is pine resin sold?
You can find food safe pine resin on websites like Etsy or Amazon! You can also find it at allthingsbeingeco.ca!
These were invented by a Canadian company Abeego if you don’t have the time and energy to create your own and feel like supporting the inventor.
We LOVE Abeego so much and work with them on a regular basis! For those who don’t have access to Abeego or want to try a fun DIY project, this could be a good option too 🥰💚