Caring for beeswax wraps: how to make yours last over a year

Beeswax wraps are made to be used again and again, but the wax has one weakness: heat. With a few simple habits, they last over a year. One cycle in the dishwasher and they are ruined.

The washing routine: cold, mild and quick

1. 1
   Rinse in cold water right after use

   That way food residue does not have time to dry on, and a rinse is usually all it takes.

2. 2
   Use mild soap when needed

   A small blob of mild washing-up liquid, rubbed in gently with your fingers. Avoid strong degreasers: they are made to dissolve grease, and beeswax is itself a fat.

3. 3
   Rinse and hang up to air dry

   Over the drying rack or on a hook. The wraps dry in a few minutes.

4. 4
   Put the wrap back only when it is completely dry

   A damp wrap in the drawer can start to smell musty. Once it is fully dry, it is ready for the next job.

The whole wash takes under a minute, and it is the single biggest reason some wraps last for years while others are ruined in a few weeks.

Storage: flat, dark and cool

Store the wraps flat or loosely rolled in a drawer or a box in the kitchen. Avoid sharp, hard folds: the wax can crack where a wrap is folded in the same place time after time.

Keep them away from heat sources: the cooker, the steam from the dishwasher and the windowsill in direct sun. The wax softens from the warmth of your hands alone, so a wrap left somewhere warm for a long time loses its shape and its cling faster.

What the wraps cannot handle

When is a wrap worn out?

The signs are easy to spot: the wrap no longer clings when you shape it, the wax layer has developed dry, pale cracks or is flaking, and the fabric looks thin and shiny where it is used most. By then the wrap has done its job.

Worn-out wraps are cut up and composted: they are made of cotton, beeswax and tree resin, so they turn back into soil. With regular use this happens after about 12 months, which is why the set is also available on subscription: new wraps arrive in the post at roughly the point the old ones are finished.

Stains are a different matter. Greasy food can leave marks in the wax, and turmeric and beetroot will colour the fabric. This is cosmetic and completely harmless: the wrap works just as well with stains.

Smells settle into the wax, but airing helps

If a wrap has been wrapped around a strong cheese or half an onion, the smell can linger even after washing. It is not harmful, but there is no need to let the next food inherit it.

The fix is airing: hang the wrap outside or by an open window for a few hours, ideally overnight. Cold air takes care of most of it. If that does not do the trick, give the strongest foods their own dedicated wrap, as we recommend for blue cheese in the guide on cheese without plastic.

Care on trips and at the cabin

The wraps make fine travelling companions: they weigh nothing and put up with being squashed in a rucksack. On the move it is enough to wipe them with a clean, damp cloth, then give them a proper cold wash once you are home again. More packing tips are in the guide on bread at the cabin and on the trail.

The same principle as the bread bag

If you already have the beeswax bread bag, you will recognise the whole routine: cold wash, mild soap, air dry. The details for the bag are in the washing guide for the bread bag, and everything the wraps can be used for day to day is in the how-to guide for beeswax wraps.

Frequently asked questions