Make reusable BEESWAX WRAPS
For an eco-conscious alternative to cling film, turn your scrap fabric into reusable wax wrappers
For those looking to swap out single-use food coverings like cling film and plastic sandwich bags, reusable wax wraps are the perfect eco-friendly alternative. Once coated in a thin layer of beeswax, the cloths become waterproof and flexible to fold and mould around food items or containers. The heat of your hands will help release the natural adhesive to create a tight but breathable seal that will keep food fresh. If your wraps start to lose their stick, don’t throw them away! You can easily refresh your homemade wax wraps every six months or so simply by repeating steps 2-5. Your wraps will be as good as new again!
YOU WILL NEED
Cotton scrap fabrics Pinking shears Baking tray Baking paper
Wax drops Paintbrush
1 HEM YOUR FABRIC
Begin by trimming the edges of your fabric scraps with pinking shears (scissors with a zig-zag edge). If you don’t have a pair, it’s a good idea to hem the fabric to stop it from fraying. Do this by turning all four edges over by 5mm, press, then turn over by another 5mm and press again. Machine sew close to the folded edges.
2 LINE THE BAKING TRAY
Line a baking tray with baking paper and position the fabric on top. Make sure the paper covers the tray entirely to avoid any wax getting on the tray.
3 ADD THE WAX DROPS
Sprinkle some wax drops on top of the fabric, spreading the drops out to the very edges. Put in the oven on a very low heat, around 100C/below Gas 1, for five minutes. It’s possible to oversaturate your fabric, so it’s best to start with a small amount of wax first. Once the first amount of wax has melted, you can add more to the gaps on the fabric if needed.
4 SPREAD THE WAX
Once the wax has begun to melt slightly, remove the tray from the oven (remember to use oven gloves!!) and spread the wax around with the paintbrush until the whole surface is covered in melted wax.
5 LEAVE TO SET
Return the baking tray to the oven until the wax has completely melted. Peel the wax wrap from the baking paper and hang up to set. Once the wax has set, which should take about two minutes, they’re ready to be used to seal bowls, cover food and wrap up leftovers.
6 HOW TO CLEAN YOUR WRAPS
To clean used wax wraps, wash them in cool water with a mild washing-up liquid. Store out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources like hot pans.
7 GIVE THEM A REFRESH
If there are any creases that appear in your fabric wraps after use, simply sandwich them between two pieces of baking paper and use an iron on a very low setting to iron out the crinkles.
DON’T EXPOSE YOUR WAX WRAPS TO HEAT, INCLUDING WASHING THEM IN WARM WATER, PUTTING THEM IN THE OVEN OR MICROWAVE, TO AVOID MELTING
IDEA TO STEAL Pick cotton prints to match your decor
Look for wax drops with beeswax as well as pine resin, and either jojoba oil or coconut oil to help them stay flexible