Eliminate waste by creating your own reusable beeswax wrap to use in place of plastic wrap! With just 3 ingredients you can create something for your kitchen that will last use after use.

Red checkered beeswax wrap over a glass jar containing homemade blueberry jam

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Over the course of about 2 years, so far, we have been working on simplifying in our home. Part of this process includes getting rid of harmful ingredients and replacing it with a healthier option. Of course, this is an ongoing process and will be for our whole lives. We aren’t aiming for perfect, which is good because we will never achieve that.

Homemade Beeswax wraps have been a wonderful alternative in our kitchen for food storage. They are so simple to make and very inexpensive as well. I don’t know about you, but I am all about inexpensive and simple!

What is Beeswax and how do I use it?

Beeswax is a wax created by honey bees. The wax is secreted from the abdomen of worker bees, specifically, and used by the bees to create hexagon shaped cells that will be filled with honey.

This precious wax has many uses for us humans in addition to the bees. Beeswax is used to make many all natural products. It is used to make things like beeswax wraps, body butter, chap-stick, and candles just to name a few! I recommend finding a local beekeeper and buying the raw beeswax in bulk for a healthier product at a better price. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have access to local raw beeswax, you can also use these beeswax pellets.

Why Use Raw Beeswax?

Using raw beeswax ensures that all the natural oils are kept in the wax for optimal benefits. As often as possible, I always opt for using things raw and not processed. Raw Beeswax can be used for a lot of homemade products. It contains healing properties for the skin as well as antibacterial as well. The life of beeswax is endless. It has been found in Egyptian tombs, so you do not need to worry about it going bad.

How to use the wraps

Beeswax wraps are a great food storage option for particular items. Use the wraps to store things like cheese, vegetables, fruits, and breads. Avoid using the wraps for meat or fish. They would harbor smells and do not seal well with the natural juices in raw meat.

How to clean and care for the wraps

Cleaning and caring for the homemade beeswax wraps is really quite simple. Use cold water and a mild soap to gently clean the wraps after each use. Do not use hot water as this can heat the wax causing it to come off and lower the life span of the wrap. Be sure to dry each wrap well before storing.

Your wrap will last quite some time. There is no exact time I can give since it depends on how frequently you use it for food storage. The wraps can be an effective fire starter if you choose to keep it for further use after it is no longer usable in your kitchen. When you notice the wrap becoming thin and does not seal well over your food, you’ll know it is no longer usable for food storage.

What fabric to use

I recommend using 100% cotton for this project. I would avoid using a heavy fabric because it will make the wrap less malleable. Also, avoid using any type of fabric that is not able to be ironed. Washing your fabric prior to use is a must, failing to do so will cause the color to leak into the wax.

Jojoba oil necessity

The Jojoba oil helps keep the wrap longer. It also helps ensure the wax melts evenly over the fabric, helping it to create a better seal for food storage. If you do not have Jojoba oil, I definitely recommend getting some since it is a great product to have around the house for other homemade products. But, in a pinch you could leave it out and be just fine using your beeswax wraps, it just may not bend as well or last as long.

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Pinnable graphic for My abiding home beeswax wrap tutorial

Supplies you will need

Fabric, 100% cotton
Measuring tape
Pair of scissors
Raw beeswax, bulk or pellets
Grater (If not using pellets)
Jojoba Oil
Iron
Parchment paper, 2 pieces

How to make a beeswax wrap

Begin by measuring and cutting the fabric. I recommend 6″x 6″, 8″x 8″, and 12″x 12″ for cutting measurements, but you could use a different measurement to meet your kitchen needs.

If not using pellets, now would be the time to grate your beeswax. Doing so will help the beeswax to melt quicker. I have also just chopped the beeswax into small chunks and that works fine as well.

Place a piece of parchment paper on a towel. Place your piece of fabric on top of the parchment paper. Sprinkle the grated wax or pellets somewhat evenly over the piece of fabric.

For a 6″x6″ wrap, add about 5 drops of Jojoba oil in various spots on the fabric. If you are making a medium or large food storage wrap that is 8″x 8″ or 12″x12″, then you will need 10 drops of Jojoba oil.

Jojoba oil and shredded beeswax on a piece of fabric over parchment paper to make a wrap

Place a second piece of parchment paper over top of the wax and oil.

Use a hot iron to gently move across the paper and melt the wax, being sure to cover the entire piece of fabric. If you need to sprinkle a little more grated beeswax or pellets over the fabric, carefully lift the top parchment piece and do so. Then, repeat the ironing process until the wax melts and covers the entire piece of fabric. If you do not wash your fabric prior to making this project, your wax will turn colors, as shown in the photo below.

Beeswax melted onto a piece of red fabric with flowers on it

Remove the parchment paper and allow the wrap to cool on a towel or hard surface. Once completely cooled, your wrap is ready for use in the kitchen!

*Note: If your wrap is having trouble sticking, a rubber band can be used to help secure the wrap over your food or container.

If you found this how-to helpful to make your own beeswax wrap, I’d love if you could give it 5 stars!

Here’s some more DIY’s from My abiding home:

Organic Jojoba oil, shredded beeswax, and fabric on parchment paper to make a beeswax wrap

How To Make A Beeswax Wrap DIY

With just 3 ingredients you can eliminate waste in your home and create a reusable and safe food storage product!

Keyword: Beeswax, DIY, Food storage

Yield: 1 Beeswax wrap

Equipment

1 Measuring tape
1 Pair of scissors
2 Pieces of parchment paper
1 Iron
1 Grater If not using pellets

Materials

1 lb Beeswax bulk or pellets works
5-10 drops Jojoba oil
1 piece Fabric Enough for a 6"x 6", 8"x 8", or 12" x 12" wrap

Instructions

Measure your fabric to 6"x 6" for a small beeswax wrap or 12"x 12" for a large wrap. Cut out your fabric.
If using bulk beeswax, grate it now.
On a towel, place a piece of parchment paper. On top of that, place your piece of fabric.
Sprinkle your grated wax or pellets evenly over the piece of fabric.
If you are making a small wrap, add 5 drops of Jojoba oil over the fabric. If making a medium or large, add 10 drops instead.
Place the second piece of parchment paper over the piece of fabric that now has beeswax and Jojoba oil on it.
With a hot iron. Gently move across the parchment paper to melt the wax onto the fabric.
Check to be sure the fabric is fully covered with melted wax. If not, carefully lift the top piece of parchment paper and add more beeswax. Then, carefully place the top parchment paper back down and continue ironing to melt the wax.
Remove the parchment paper and place the wrap aside on a towel or hard surface to cool.
Once fully cooled, you can begin using your reusable beeswax wrap for food storage in your kitchen!

Notes

A rubber band can be used to help secure the beeswax wrap over food or container if you find that it is not sealing well for you on a particular item.