Homemade Furniture Wax Recipe

Waxing your wood furniture protects the wood and gives it an unparalleled luster and depth. However, some commercial waxes contain chemicals and scents you might not want in your home. Luckily, you can make furniture wax that’s nontoxic and smells delightful with an easy DIY recipe. 

Homemade Furniture Wax Recipe

First, you'll want to grab four ingredients before you get started: beeswax, paraffin, oil (almond, coconut, walnut, or olive oil), and vanilla or lavender essential oil. Once you've collected your materials, you're ready to start your do-it-yourself furniture wax:

1. First, start to slowly melt equal parts of beeswax and paraffin in a double boiler on the stovetop. Keep a close watch. For one project, you might start with one ounce of each. Note: Both waxes are flammable, so don't heat directly on the stovetop without the double boiler. Do not use a microwave.
2. Once the waxes have reached a liquid state, slowly stir in 1.5 cups of oil per ounce of wax. Adjust the amount of oil for the next round, if you prefer a harder or softer wax.
3. Turn off the burner and let the mixture cool.
4. As the mixture cools, stir in five drops of vanilla or lavender oil per ounce of wax.
5. Pour the mixture into a container with an airtight lid. A wide-mouth glass jar is best, but plastic will work as well.

How to Wax Your Wood Furniture

Homemade furniture wax is used in just the same way as commercial wax. Before starting, be sure your wax has cooled completely; then:

1. Rub the wax into the wood in circular strokes, using a soft, clean cloth such as a cloth diaper or an old t-shirt.
2. Let the wax dry for about 30 minutes.
3. Use a second cloth and buff your furniture to a shine by rubbing in the direction of the wood grain. If applying to raw, refinished, or dry wood, try three thin applications roughly 8 to 12 hours apart.

You'll want to maintain waxed wood furniture by reapplying the wax every six months. Floors should be waxed every three months. In between wax applications, you'll also want to dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth, which will remove unnecessary dust bunnies and maintain shine.

Why Homemade Is Best

Homemade furniture wax is a great choice, even if you're not a strictly organic household. There are so many advantages; for example:

• Homemade furniture wax is additive-free, easy to make, and can be customized with your favorite scent.
• You can use homemade furniture wax for other wood cleanings, like making your kitchen's cutting boards look brand new again. Adding that rich shine will also protect it and cut down on cleaning time.
• Making your own paste wax is a great way to have a non-toxic and natural wood finish to stain and wax your wood materials with. Organic ingredients are good for the home, your furniture, and your health.
• Homemade wax creates a durable hard finish that makes countertops, bed frames, and floors sparkle.
• Store-bought wood polish sprays often coat surfaces in slick and impenetrable layers that don't actually moisturize the wood. Thankfully, olive-oil lemon polishes, beeswax wood sealants, and coconut oil rubs truly do the trick.