The Best, Simplest Beeswax Furniture Polish

Furniture polish is one of those chores that only gets done when you can manage it. Or, occasionally, when company is coming and you want to impress them. Getting furniture polish all over everything is kind of gross and the smell sticks around for quite a while. Some people might not mind them smell at all, but for others, the smell can be a serious issue.

In general, most furniture polishes aren’t exactly healthy options. They work, but they can also leave a residue on furniture, build up after a while, and are potentially poisonous. Plus, they can be a serious problem if you have issues like asthma, since the additional air bourn particles can make breathing difficult. Beeswax is an easy alternative.

Simple Beeswax Furniture Polish Recipe

There are different options for a natural furniture polish recipe. Sometimes, however, you can just keep it simple. One of the absolute simplest recipes is only two ingredients, and if you have the beeswax, you’ve probably got the other one in your kitchen: olive oil. That’s it, just beeswax and olive oil. This makes one of the best, easy natural furniture polishes possible. And since bees make beeswax from honey, it doesn’t degrade quickly. Honey is known as a natural preservative, with mild antibacterial properties. Beeswax isn’t antibacterial, but it does last for a very, very, very long time.

For this simple furniture polish recipe, you need:

2 tablespoons beeswax, finely grated

6-8 tablespoons olive oil

A glass container (small mason jars are perfect)

Pot with a few inches of water

Spoon or stick for stirring

You’ll want to make sure the water in the pot is below the level of the container. All you need it for is to heat and melt the wax, you don’t actually want any water to get inside. You could technically use a double boiler for this, but then you have to get the polish out of the boiler and clean it. Using the container from the start makes it so much easier.

Once the water is steaming, but not quite boiling, drop in the pot and the beeswax. Then you just have to hang out, stirring occasionally until the wax is melted. That means completely melted, with no lumps or granules floating around in it. Then, grab a hot pad and the stirrer, and mix in the olive oil. The 6 tablespoons will make the polish firmer, while putting in eight will make it all soft and squishy. Or at least, squishier.

Doll it Up

This is the simplest version possible. If you happen to have some essential oils floating around, feel free to incorporate a few drops as well. It’ll certainly make it smell better, and some are actually good for use around the home. Mint is great for keeping bugs away during the summer, lavender is good for deterring mice, and tea tree oil is a mild disinfectant. Honestly, there are no other ingredients that you need. Olive oil, beeswax, and essential oils are it.

Olive oil works as a decent furniture polish all on its own, but it doesn’t last very long. The beeswax keeps it from degrading and actually helps to nourish and protect your wood. The wax doesn’t just act as a polish, it helps protect the surface. It’s great for oiling old furniture when time has made the joints swell, and it can even eliminate surface scratches. Plus it’s great for areas you have to grip, like handles.

No matter your thoughts on furniture polish, it’s hard to deny that one this simple and effective is hard to beat. Plus, it makes a great, thoughtful gift for birthdays and holidays. If you have easy access to the beeswax, this is a great, simple option.

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