HOW TO: Using Waxing Wafers to make DIY Beeswax Wraps

Waxing wafers are beeswax, resin and jojoba oil in convenient Ready-to-Use premixed form. Use to make new food wrappers, or to refresh ones you already own. Available now in my Etsy shop. 

Whether you're reducing plastic use or substituting foil, my formulation is extra sticky, so your DIY beeswax wrappers will actually work!

SUGGESTED USE

• Small Wrap (7 x 7 inch): 1/2 wafer
• Medium Wrap (13 x 13 inch): 2 wafers
• Large Wrap (16 x 16 inch): 3 wafers
• Jumbo Wrap (20 x 20 inch): 4 wafers
• Infinitely Useful Gift Wrap (25 x 25): 4 wafers – using saved ribbons to tie up presents, you can make even larger wraps that become gifts themselves. Gifts that keep on giving!
  

DIY Beeswax Wraps Waxing Wafers, 4 for $3 plus cost to mail

What You’ll Need

• DIY Beeswax Wraps Waxing Wafers from my Etsy shop
  
• tight weave fabric, preferably 100% cotton or other lightweight natural fiber
  
• a clothing iron
• two pieces of baking parchment, heavy duty if available
• heat-safe working surface like an ironing board; I use a 13x18" Epicurean cutting board
  
• scissors (or pinking shears for less fraying)
  

1. Lay a sheet of parchment on your work surface.
2. Lay your fabric on the parchment.
3. Set your iron to cotton (medium-high).
4. Pinch off pieces of waxing wafer and distribute them over your fabric. Not too much! It's better to put on too little, getting the dry spots in a second pass
5. Cover with another sheet of parchment.
6. Press the iron over the the wax pieces, spreading the pools of melted wax outward. Try to stay within the confines of the parchment.
   
7. Peel off and let cool (about 30 seconds). Your beeswax wrap is ready to use!

Clean as you work. Use hand sanitizer to clean sticky fingers before handling your iron.

Watching the wax melt and move under the parchment is the fun part!

Don't forget to turn off and unplug your iron.

TIPS

• If you do use too much, iron another piece of fabric over the extra-waxy spot and it'll absorb it. 
• Cutting to size after waxing the fabric results in less fraying than cutting beforehand. Hemming the edges is not recommended unless you're sewing a plastic-free baggie.
• When finished, save the parchment. The wax that has cooled on it is ideal for refreshing work-weary wraps.
  
• Use rubbing alcohol to clean the handle of your iron, and other waxy smudges.
• Use hand sanitizer to clean tacky fingers.

USE & CARE

• Store unused waxing wafers in a cool, dry place. Best if used within 2 years.
  
• Unlike plastic wrap which clings readily to glass and ceramic, beeswax wrap functions a little differently. Beeswax wrap clings more to itself than whatever you're wrapping. Pleat and press it onto itself until you're happy with the seal.
• If you were generous with the wax application, you'll find waxy residue on your unwrapped items. A little rubbing alcohol will clean that right up, but don't use it on anything painted or varnished.
• To clean your wraps, wipe gently and rinse with cool-to-tepid water. Use a very small amount of dish soap if necessary. Do not scrub. Hang to dry.
  

I hope this helps you on your plastic-free journey. Leave any questions/comments you have below.

https://backyardbeehive.etsy.com/listing/1551131475/diy-beeswax-wraps-waxing-wafers-premixed

In complete transparency, sometimes a container has a funny shape so I use a rubber band to secure its wrap. It enables me to stay plastic-free, and that makes me happy.