We think anything that helps us cut out single-use plastic from our daily lives is the bees-knees—and few kitchen essentials are as buzzworthy when it comes to doing just that as beeswax wraps.

But as wonderful as the ability to eliminate cling wrap and plastic sandwich bags from our lives is, the real secret behind anything sustainable is making it last for as long as possible. Hence why it’s so important to learn how to clean beeswax wraps so you can keep your plastic-free food storage solution in the bee-st shape.

So read on (or watch our video below) if you want to learn how to clean, dry, repair, re-wax, store and generally just care for your beeswax food wraps.

Contents: Beeswax Wrap Cleaning Guide

  1. What Are Beeswax Wraps? Jump to section
  2. How Long Do Beeswax Wraps Last? Jump to section
  3. How To Wash Beeswax Wraps Jump to section
  4. Others Tips On How to Care For Beeswax Wraps Jump to section

What Are Beeswax Wraps?

Beeswax wraps are simply pieces of fabric coated with…you guessed it, beeswax! They’re flexible and can be molded around any container or food dreictly, creating a near air-tight seal to reduce food spoilage and keep food fresh.

Coating fabric with wax is nothing new. In fact, the ancient Egyptians knew how to preserve food at home using this exact method. But as time marched on, waxed fabrics were largely replaced – first with waxed paper and then with plastic wraps in the mid 20th Century.

Unfortunately, as you can imagine, these new innovations introduced a range of issues. From 1876, beeswax and other natural waxes were all but replaced with paraffin – a petroleum-based product that is environmentally costly, to say the least.

These new plastic wrapping kids on the block (PVC, LDPE, and PvdC) allowed consumers to store food for longer at peak freshness– at the expense of the health of both people and the planet. And, like that uninvited dinner guest, they tend to overstay their welcome by 600 years.

Fortunately, beeswas wraps are making a comeback, presenting an ancient solution to a modern problem. As a plastic-free product, organic cotton beeswax wraps is an easy sustainable swap and they can last a long time when properly cared for.

When they do finally reach the end of their useful life, put them in your indoor compost bin and return the compost to the natural environment.

How Long Do Beeswax Wraps Last?

With proper beeswax wrap cleaning and care, they can last for years. They are the antithesis of disposable single-use products.

The key thing to remember, however, is that without a bit of TLC, they won’t last half as long as they should, which is why we’ve put together a list of tips to help you make sure that your beeswax wraps keep on wrapping (like Ice-T).

How To Wash Beeswax Wraps

Fortunately, keeping your beeswax wraps squeaky clean is about as easy as learning how to use them. In fact, there are really just three main tips to keep in mind:

Steer Clear Of Heat

Beeswax wraps don’t link heat. The wax coating is designed to respond to gentle body heat as you mould it around foods or over the top of a container. But if things heat up too much, the wax will liquefy and come off entirely, so avoid washing beeswax wraps in hot water. Hand wash them and in tepid water only and never place them in the dishwasher.

Avoid Harmful Chemicals

While it’s normal for the beeswax coating to fade over time, harsh chemicals (like those found in many traditional dishwashing liquids), bleach, or astringent substances like vinegar can erode it prematurely. A non-toxic dish soap like pure Castile soap is ideal.

Don’t Scrub Too Hard

Excessive abrasion will also wear away the coating on which these products depend, so don’t use any hard-bristled brushes, brillow pads, or scrubbies on them.

Instead, ceate a lather with a soft dishcloth or your hands, gently wiping down the beeswax wrap as you would other food containers or plates. Minimal pressure is key to avoid damaging the coating on the fabric and to clean beeswax food warps properly.

Others Tips On How to Care For Beeswax Wraps

Cleaning is not the only element of care when you’re trying to extend the life of your beeswax wraps. Think about how and where you use your wraps, how you dry them, where you store them, and how you can re-wax and repair those which are no longer wrapping lyrical.

Here are some more longevity beeswax hacks:

Using Beeswax Wraps Correctly

Beeswax wraps are useful (obviously). However, it’s important to understand how to use beeswax wraps the right way and the wrong way.

  • Don’t use beeswax wraps to cover hot containers or food (as mentioned above, they’re not a fan of heat).
  • For food safety reasons, don’t use beeswax wraps for covering raw meat, and don’t rely on them for long-term storage (i.e where an air-tight seal should be used).
  • Avoid using a beeswax wrap to contain oily, saucy, or acidic foods, which can degrade the coating and cause staining.
How To Dry Beeswax Wraps

After cleaning beeswax wraps, leave them to air dry. You can drape them on your dish drying rack, or hang them out on the line to dry outside. But watch out for those sunny days as it could cause an unfortunate meltdown. Similarly, avoid placing beeswax wraps to dry in sweltering locations – close to a heat source or under the baking sun.

How To Store Beeswax Wraps

Once your beeswax wraps are dry, you can fold them gently and place them in the drawer or another cool(ish) location. Ideally, somewhere out of direct sunlight and not too close to an oven, stove, radiator, or another heat source.

How to Repair & Re-Wax Beeswax Wraps

Even with perfect cleaning and care routine, it’s important to recognize that the coating on beeswax wraps will not last forever. The good news is that even when the coating is damaged or has come off, you can do a little refresh to bring them back to life.

Remember, at the core of your beeswax wrap is a piece of fabric – usually cotton and ideally 100% organic cotton to reduce exposure to potential toxins. Even when the wax coating is beyond repair, this fabric will still be usable. To turn it back into its former beauty, you simply have to renew or replace the coating.

If the coating is beginning to break down but has not yet degraded fully, you can simply heat the beeswax wrap gently.

If the wax coating is more degraded, and the wax is diminished, you can add more beeswax. Grate natural organic beeswax over the surface before heating it gently. You can do this in your oven at a low temperature to melt the wax and redistribute it over the surface of the fabric, or use a hairdryer.

If the coating seems beyond repair, you can start from scratch. First, wash in hot, soapy water to remove the remnants of the coating which remain. Add your beeswax (or soy wax, if you’re using vegan food wraps), to restore a fresh coating and make your wrap functional once more. You can also get a little creative by other ingredients like jojoba oil to increase function and make the wraps more pliable.