READER LETTER OF THE WEEK

Dear Wendyl,

I’m on the lookout for a furniture polish recipe. I don’t like the fragrance of many of the supermarket offerings and wanted to have a go at making one like my grandmother used. Do you have any ideas? Muriel

Dear Muriel,

The furniture polish recipe I use can be found in dozens of books. I’m not sure what the addition of lemon balm does to this, as the smell of turps somewhat overpowers the lemon scent, but it is such a good polish I didn’t mess with the recipe. I’ve also used this on my unpolished floorboards. It will solidify in the jar over time, but all you need to do is gently heat it by placing it in the sun or next to a heater for a while, then shake to restore it to its glorious unctuous self. LEMON FURNITURE POLISH

80g beeswax

250ml turpentine

20g Sunlight soap, grated

250ml tea, made from infusing a handful of lemon balm leaves in boiling water

20 drops essential oil

1 Place the beeswax and turps in a double boiler. Heat gently and do not take your eye off the mixture, as turps is highly flammable.

2 When it has combined, put to one side and melt the grated soap in the lemon balm tea. When both mixtures are cool, mix together until creamy, then add the essential oil. Pour into a wide-mouthed jar.