How to Make a Reusable DIY Beeswax Wrap

By
Stacy Fisher
Stacy Fisher, Writer
Stacy Fisher

Stacy is an expert writer for The Spruce covering home DIY projects and crafts. She has over 18 years of journalistic experience, appearing as a DIY expert on the Dr. Oz Show and several radio shows. She has published hundreds of articles and co-authored a book.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 11/16/22
Project Overview
  • Total Time: 20 - 30 mins
  • Yield: 4 beeswax wraps
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $30

Make your own DIY reusable beeswax wraps in less than an hour with this quick project that's perfect for anyone looking for a fun way to get rid of some waste in their kitchen. Plastic wrap is a pain to deal with—plus, it's not reusable. These beeswax wraps can be used in place of plastic wrap to cover jars or bowls. You can even fold them into sandwich wraps and bags. The best part is that you can then use the wraps over and over again.

DIY reusable beeswax wrap alongside materials

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

These DIY reusable beeswax wraps have a few key ingredients that are melted into cotton fabric. Jojoba oil is used to make the fabric soft and pliable. The pine rosin is used to make the fabric sticky so you can shape it around your container. Finally, the beeswax pellets are used to bring everything together, making the wraps safe for food.

This guide has you make wraps custom-sized to bowls or jars you already have. If you'd like to make the wraps a little more versatile, size the wraps using bowls or jars that are sized similarly to other containers you have, so one wrap could be used to cover many different containers when needed.

Watch our helpful tutorial to find out just how easy (and fun!) it is to make these beeswax wraps. You'll want to make a ton of them in all the cute fabrics you find. Then keep reading to get a list of supplies, tools, and some written instructions on how to make the reusable wraps. Find more ideas like this one with the "One Thing" videos from The Spruce.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Pen
  • Scissors
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Measuring spoons
  • Oven
  • Foam brush

Materials

  • Cotton fabric (prewashed)
  • Bowls or jars to cover
  • Jojoba oil
  • Pine rosin
  • Beeswax pellets

Instructions

Materials and tools to make DIY reusable beeswax wrap

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  1. Cut Your Fabric to Size

    Lay your bowl or jar upside down on your pre-washed cotton fabric. Draw a square that's a few inches bigger on all sides. You want to be able to have enough fabric to drape over the opening of the bowl or jar, so it needs to be enough to cover the top and hang down a few inches. Cut out the square with scissors. Repeat to cut out the other squares of fabric.

    Tip

    Reuse old tablecloths or bed linens to make these reusable wraps even more planet friendly! Just make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned and washed beforehand.

    Bowl laid upside down on cotton fabric to cut

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  2. Lay Fabric on Parchment Paper

    Line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay your pieces of fabric down on the parchment paper, with the patterned side facing up. Make sure the fabric is lying flat and that there aren't any wrinkles.

    Fabric pieces laid on parchment paper in baking sheet

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  3. Add Jojoba Oil

    Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil over each piece of fabric. Try your best to get it to spread evenly across each piece of fabric.

    Jojoba oil added to pieces of fabric

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  4. Add Pine Rosin

    Add 1 teaspoon of pine rosin to each piece of fabric, right on top of the jojoba oil, scattering the pieces so they spread evenly.

    Pine rosin scattered on fabric pieces

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  5. Sprinkle on the Beeswax

    For each piece of fabric, sprinkle on 2 teaspoons of beeswax pellets over the other two ingredients. Just like the other items, spread these out completely over the fabric. Each piece of fabric should now have three layers of ingredients sprinkled evenly over it.

    Beeswax pellets sprinkled on fabric pieces

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  6. Bake the Wraps

    Put the baking sheets into a 250°F oven for 10 minutes. This is enough time for all the ingredients you added to melt and blend together.

    Baking sheets placed in oven to melt ingredients

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  7. Spread the Ingredients

    Take a small foam brush and use it to brush the fabric pieces, making sure that the melted ingredients are evenly spread over the pieces of fabric. Be sure not to make any wrinkles in the fabric while you're brushing them.

    Foam brush spreading melted ingredients over fabric

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  8. Bake Again

    Put the baking sheets back into the oven for another 2 minutes at 250°F.

    Baking sheet with fabric placed back in oven

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  9. Cool the Fabric

    Take the wraps out of the oven and allow them to cool for just a few minutes. They should be cool enough to handle but still warm enough that they're pliable.

    Baked wraps removed for cooling

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  10. Shape the Wraps

    Place a fabric wrap over its intended jar or bowl and gently press down the edges so it's securely covering the top.

    Fabric shaped over bowl, jar and pot

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  11. Allow to Cool

    Allow the beeswax wraps to cool completely over their jars and bowls so they'll hold their shape.

    Beeswax wraps cooled off on containers

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  12. Enjoy Your Beeswax Wraps

    Your beeswax wraps are ready to enjoy. If you'd like to tighten the seal around a jar, use a rubber band to secure the wrap to the top of the jar.

    Beeswax wraps securing food in jars and bowls

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

FAQ
  • How long does beeswax wrap last?

    Beeswax wrap can last for around a year, depending on how often you use it for food storage. Eventually, it will lose its grip and potentially become tattered. 

  • What is a beeswax wrap used for?

    Beeswax wrap is used much like plastic wrap to keep food contained and fresh. The difference is the beeswax wrap is washable and reusable.

  • What should you not use beeswax wraps on?

    Do not use beeswax wrap for raw meat. In addition, do not expose it to very hot foods or hot water, as that can damage the surface.