Sometimes you see an idea that is so brilliant, so simple, so economical and you have to try it… this is one and gleaned from My Healthy green Family. Her post is so much more colourful than mine with alot more info and also some good comments so I urge you, if you are interested in making these, to check our her post 🙂
My husband is a big user of clingfilm for his lunches and other options have not proved successful. He will take his food packages out on the farm to eat through the day putting the wrap in his pocket when finished, it’s easy for him. I don’t know how many containers he has lost over the years (or lids) when I have tried to get him to use other things. Paper “doesn’t keep bread fresh enough” apparently and rips.
I was rapt to see these and made them today. Simple. The beeswax is cheap to buy from bee owners (I bought these for 50c a block and used 2 1/2) but now we have our own if hubby is happy with these it will be very good. When I started making them and told him he could trial them tomorrow he spoke in that lovely tone men use when humouring their ladies but he had to admit when I was finished they look a good, practical, healthier option.
Preheat oven to 150 deg C. Cut clean cotton cloth (old sheeting is fine) into desired sizes. I had 6 old cotton serviettes I used to trial them – the same colour as the beeswax which was an unfortunate choice to photograph.
Place on baking tray and grate the beeswax onto it, sprinkling it to fully cover.
Place tray in cover for just a few minutes, the beeswax will melt into a fine liquid that will seep down into fabric.
Use a pastry brush to spread onto areas not quite covered enough if it bubbles. Hang to cool and dry on a clothes airer (just takes few minutes)
Done!
Wipeable, waterproof, airtight cloths that can be cleaned in hot soapy water by hand and will last a few months.
Footnote: These got a big thumbs up from my husband who declared “They work brilliant!”
quarteracrelifestyle 
Cool! Curious, do you harvest honey?
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Our first harvest will be this coming Spring 🙂
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Are you planning to sell any? If so, I’d like to be placed on you customer list. 🙂
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Honey? I think the postage would be very expensive from New Zealand to America 🙂
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Duh! On my part. 😦 I guess I could arrange a trip…
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Yeah…you could 🙂 🙂
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Brilliant! I saw this the other day and I am keen to try it!
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I think they are a great idea!
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Really must try this! Are they able to be used for wrapping food in the fridge?
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Hi 🙂 Yes, they are. The woman I give the link for wraps cheese etc in them.
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Brilliant idea, saw the post on your page the other night and bought some cloth today 🙂 Thanks for sharing a great step by step for us all. 🙂
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Oh good 🙂 Let me know what you think 🙂
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What an amazing idea! I’ve been dying to get my hands on some beeswax for my mixed media work and have no idea where to look – you obviously know! Also if you are going to sell honey – please put me on the list! 🙂
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Hi Pauline. I can get you some beeswax up here, easy – how much do you want? In NZ private beekeepers aren’t allowed to sell honey…but we can give it away 🙂
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Mmmmmm – more odd rules re the honey! But if you have spare I would pay freight 🙂
Thank you for that kind offer – I want white/clear beeswax – stuff that melts clear as possible – about 500g or more – depending on price. Let me know via email contentedcrafter@gmail.com
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Yep, crazy rules!!
Emailed you 🙂
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What a brilliant idea… so good for those of us trying to reduce our use of plastic… I’m off to our local honey farm then!
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That’s what I thought 🙂
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Ingenious and so much nicer than cling wrap.
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I thought so too 🙂
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Scrumptious! Now you just need to get Roger to fold them before putting them into his pocket as otherwise you will have to redo them more regularly. Love the idea as I am guilt ridden over using cling wrap. Cheers for another awesome share Wendy. You are, indeed, and ever, my guru 🙂
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Geez Fran, don’t follow me as a guru, you’ll end up in all sorts of messes 🙂 This is a great idea! Roger has taken them to trial today and is feeling not only a little skeptical but very thankful they are not floral!
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HAHAHAHA! Guess which Stevie-boy is going to get big floral beeswax soaked handkerchiefs for his now! 🙂 Yup, you are my guru so you had best not stuff up too much as you will take your loyal follower down with you ma’am. No pressure 😉
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Lol…there ain’t a day I don’t stuff up somehow in some gloriously stupid way!
If Steve is anything like Roger, he’d take the floral to be nice and exchange it for Gladwrap in the car!
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Steve IS like Roger! He is too polite to say anything and just amends things out of sight 😉
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Poor sods!
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Nope, lucky sods that they have pragmatic wives like us to prevent them from having pockets full of rhubarb and cling wrap at the end of the day 😉
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lol, true
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You can also waterproof canvas jackets (carhart and such) and canvas shoes (Tom’s) in this same manner. Well, sorta. You draw/rub all over it with the beeswax and then melt with a hair dryer until uniformly covered.
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Sounds a great idea 🙂 I saw someone here in NZ has made beeswax crayons for kids and started thinking of all you could decorate with those…rather more expensive than plain beeswax though!
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These are really fabulous. Years ago, at a market stall, I ran across a gal who made and sold round ones. Of course she didn’t want to share her secret. Now I know. I must endeavour to make some.
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They are great!! I saw in the original post a link to buy them from somewhere, at $15. They are so cheap to make.
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What a brilliant idea. Have reblogged this on willowarchway.wordpress.com
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Thank you 🙂 And they got a thumbs up from hubby 🙂
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Reblogged this on willowarchway and commented:
What a brilliant idea !
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I don’t mean to put pressure on you either, but you and Mrs Snail of Happiness are teaching me a lot. This is a fabulous idea and I’ll be trying it as soon as I source some beeswax. I’d love to throw away the cling wrap forever! xoxoxox
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It is a fab idea ay. I am glad for the internet, I learn all sorts and get to pass it on to anyone whose equally interested 🙂 🙂
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Well I was intrigued when read the title of this post, and I can honestly say I had never heard of this method.. How ingenious .. And the Thumbs up to bargain.. Brilliant, and well worth it.. 🙂 xxx
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I had never heard of it either until I saw it on FB last week, so simple yet so effective. I have seen them for sale since….very expensive to buy.readymade xx
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Well well done you Wendy for taking the initiative and making them yourself and Hubbies seal of approval too 🙂
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🙂
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I have been wanting to try my hand at making these. We have been saving the burr comb after checking the hives and I think I have enough to make a couple of these. (I am trying to wean Mr. Overalls off of plastic bags that he uses for sandwiches).
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🙂 The first day Roger came home and said they were as good as gladwrap, yesterday he came home and said “Man whoever thought of this was brilliant, I’m impressed!”
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Another job on the list!
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You have lists too?? I wonder whose is longest 🙂
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Thanks for that idea – I just made some, but looking at yours I think I need to put my beeswax on thicker. I have just added a link to your blog from mine for the instructions. Cheers.
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Hi Anne 🙂 Glad you tried them. I popped over to look at your blog…I love it and have bookmarked to go back to however I do forget about my bookmarked things – you don’t have a follow by email button?
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Right under the heading picture, before you even get to the title is a bar to type in your email address. I have not been able to change the “follow” things to make it easier.Glad you liked it, and thanks for popping over.
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Cool, thanks will have a look.
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