Save money on an expensive wood polish and make your own with just three simple ingredients. Olive oil adds moisture to prevent wood from drying out and cracking, beeswax helps seal the wood and protect the surface after cleaning, and lemon gives it that clean, fresh scent.
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This simple DIY beeswax polish will restore the shine not only to wooden furniture, but to bowls, toys and even trays. It brightens and preserves the natural beauty of both finished and unfinished wood.
Things You’ll Need
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2 tablespoons beeswax
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1/2 cup olive oil
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1 teaspoon lemon essential
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Container with lid
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Soft, clean cloth
How to Make the Beeswax Wood Treatment
Step 1
Combine the olive oil and beeswax in a heat-proof container. A glass measuring cup works well. Heat in short bursts in the microwave, stirring between, until the beeswax is melted. You can also bring a couple of inches of water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn heat to low and set the measuring cup in the saucepan. Stir occasionally until the beeswax is melted.
Step 2
Once the beeswax is completely melted, let the mixture sit for a few minutes to cool slightly. Then stir in the lemon essential oil. Lemon not only adds a fresh clean scent, but it's also a fabulous degreaser. This helps keep the polish from leaving excess residue on surfaces.
Pour the mixture into a container that has a lid. To give the polish a smooth consistency, continue to stir until the mixture is room temperature.
Tip
The beeswax will keep in a lidded jar for up to one year. Avoid adding any water to the polish.
How to Use the Beeswax Wood Treatment
Step 1
First make sure the wooden surface is dusted and clean. Then dip a soft, clean rag into the jar to get a bit of beeswax polish on the rag. A little goes a long way so start with a small amount. Gently wipe the wood surface with the polish. Apply polish all over the wood and let it sit and soak into the wood for about 30 minutes.
Step 2
Then use a clean cloth to wipe up any excess polish and buff the wood slightly to make it shine. Surfaces will be somewhat slippery after polishing so use caution.
More DIY Cleaning Solutions
For more ideas on how to make your own cleaning solutions, check out these helpful articles:
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Homemade Wood Floor Cleaning Solution
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