A Brief Guide to the Eco-Wrap
- Amber Frid
- Sep 24, 2017
- 3 min read
A few years ago, I began switching our family over to a more "sustainable" lifestyle. This is something that is very heavy on my heart. I had switched us to all organic cleaners, primarily second-hand clothing (with the occasional new buy), *mostly* organic foods, and trying to DIY as much as possibly can with materials I already own. That brings us all the way to beeswax wraps.
I have started to make my own beeswax wraps, and I love them. Like, really love them. Our family hasn't completely eliminated plastic wrap yet, but we're almost there! I hope that by the end of reading this you will feel more confident in switching over to beeswax wraps!
What is a beeswax wrap?
A lot of people have asked, "What is a beeswax wrap?" Well, it's simple! Beeswax Wraps are only made out of four items: Cotton, jojoba oil, beeswax pellets, and pine gum rosin. All of these items are food safe and can be found organic/sustainably made.
Just a quick breakdown of this witchcraft:
*The cottonnis light, but with enough fibers to hold these heavy oils.
*Jojoba oil allows for a nice smooth and malleable finish.
*Beeswax pellets (which are amazing in general) help the cloth hold shape.
*Pine gum rosin gives it a tacky texture which allows it to stick to itself, most bowls, cups, etc.
Why should I switch to beeswax wraps?
I'm not saying that you need to run out *to my shop ;)* and buy a ton of beeswax wraps. However, I am a firm believer that we can make small changes that will help preserve this beautiful planet. Beeswax wraps can be really intimidating! They're a totally different texture and feel than plastic wrap, you use them over and over until they need to be re-resined, and they have a little learning curve.
It took me about two weeks to get the hang of caring for my first beeswax wrap. Once I got past the tackiness and finagling it, I was in environmentalist heaven! I saw my grocery budget decline a little more. I wasn't throwing away as many unnecessary pieces of plastic that will take forever to decompose in the dump. It really felt like a huge accomplishment.
If you're interested in a more sustainable lifestyle, then beeswax wraps are a must have! Once you get used to them, you'll never want plastic wrap again!
How do I care for my beeswax wrap?
Caring for your beeswax wrap is really easy! Whenever your wrap needs to be clean, rinse it under lukewarm water until all the food residue is gone... Then hang it to dry! You can hang it on a small indoor drying rack, over your faucet, over the back of a chair. Wherever you feel comfortable with!
Never hang it on an outside line or throw it in the dryer! This will ruin your beeswax wrap!
**Just a quick note: Beeswax wraps do eventually start to wear out. Whenever most of the wax is gone you will need to re-resin your wrap. It will start to feel like *mostly* normal fabric, and the wax will be very easy to scrape off. Fortunately, I will be offering that as a service in the coming months. Wraps last around 8 months to a year (give and take) depending on your usage!
How can I use a beeswax wrap?
There are so many ways to use a beeswax wrap! I use a small beeswax wrap for snacks on the go, covering half of a fruit or veggie, and for packing lunches. My medium wrap is primarily used for leftovers, sandwiches and wraps. My large wrap gets used to cover bowls, wrap bread and large veggies (butternut or spaghetti squash), and so much more. You can get creative with how you want to use your beeswax wraps. The possibilities are *almost* endless! Just about anything, except liquid and raw meat, can be placed in a beeswax wrap.
Where can I find a beeswax wrap?
Flowering Fox sells beeswax wraps in unique patterns that you won't find anywhere else! I make my beeswax wraps with 100% USDA Organic products. I have tried to make them as affordable as possible. Soon, I will offer the option to re-resin them if your fabric is in good condition!
If you're interested in purchasing a wrap, head on over to my shop.
Comments