5 Household Fixes With a Bar of Beeswax

Every time we harvest honey, we're left with cappings, the fresh wax the bees use to seal each cell of honey. That wax from our own hives here on our little urban homestead in Fremont becomes our balms, our board butter, and our beeswax bars. And honestly, a plain bar of beeswax is one of the handiest things you can keep in a kitchen drawer.

People have used beeswax around the house for centuries, long before sprays and silicone lubricants existed. Here are five of our favorite everyday fixes.

1. Unstick wooden drawers and windows

Wooden drawers that stick and squeal are a classic problem, especially when humidity changes with the seasons. Pull the drawer out and rub a block of beeswax along the runners and the bottom edges where wood rubs against wood. Slide it in and out a few times. Beeswax leaves a slick, long-lasting layer that doesn't attract dust like oil can. The same trick works on sticky wooden window sashes.

2. Quiet squeaky hinges and help stubborn zippers

Rub a little beeswax on a squeaky hinge pin, or warm a small amount and work it in. For zippers on jackets, bags, or tents, rub the wax lightly along both sides of the teeth, then zip up and down a few times. It's especially nice for outdoor gear, since beeswax also resists water.

3. Protect garden tools from rust

With how much time I spend out in our pollinator garden (if you're still deciding what to plant, see our favorite pollinator trees for the Bay Area), this is the fix I'd start with. After cleaning and drying your garden tools at the end of the season, rub a thin coat of beeswax on the metal blades. Warming the tool slightly in the sun first helps the wax spread. The coating keeps moisture off and helps prevent rust through the wet Bay Area winter. For wooden handles, a beeswax and oil blend keeps them from drying out and splintering.

4. Make screws and nails go in easier

This is an old carpenter's trick. Rub the threads of a screw or the tip of a nail across a block of beeswax before driving it into wood. The wax reduces friction, so screws go in more easily with less chance of stripping or splitting the wood.

5. Waterproof canvas and leather

Beeswax is a traditional waterproofing for canvas bags, jackets, and shoes. Rub the wax firmly onto clean, dry canvas, then use a hair dryer to gently melt it into the fibers. For leather boots, a beeswax-based conditioner helps repel water and keeps leather supple. Always test on a hidden spot first, since wax can darken some materials.

Bonus tips

• Thread: Run sewing thread across beeswax to strengthen it and stop tangles, a favorite trick for hand-sewing buttons.
• Stuck lids: A thin coat on the threads of a jar that tends to stick helps it open smoothly next time.
• Candle drips: Beeswax candles tend to drip less than many other waxes and burn with a warm glow.
• Cuticles: A dab of beeswax balm softens dry cuticles. More in Cuticle Care 101.

A note on sourcing

Look for pure beeswax without added paraffin. Natural beeswax ranges from pale yellow to deep gold and has a soft honey scent. Good beeswax comes from healthy hives, and most beekeepers are happy to talk with you about where theirs comes from. (New to beeswax? Start with What Is Beeswax and Why Do We Love Using It?)

Ours comes from our own hives. Our Natural Beeswax Bar is pure beeswax and nothing else, molded into an easy-to-hold bar for every fix on this list. 🐝

Want to put beeswax to work in your kitchen? Our beeswax cutting board conditioner is made with wax from our own hives and keeps wooden boards and spoons from drying out and cracking.