I’ve been wanting to make reusable food bags to replace plastic for a while now (it was actually one of my February goals that didn’t get finished) but I was having a hard time figuring out what kind of waterproof fabric was food safe.
Some people have used vinyl or nylon but I have found some information that those are not food safe. Of course, not food safe and not labeled as food safe are two different things. A lot of times it’s just a matter of the company who produces the fabric not wanting to go through the hassle of filling out extra paperwork to prove that their fabric is food safe.
I still want to make some snack and sandwich bags that can be tossed in the wash so I will continue to research food safe fabric (and I’ll keep you posted!) but for now I’m happy with using beeswax fabric.
Beeswax fabric is non-toxic, reusable, washable and, because of the nature of wax, can be molded around food or dishes. They’re also very inexpensive to make (ya gotta love that!).
Beeswax Fabric
What you need:
Cotton fabric (I used leftover craft fabric from OG’s birthday banner)
Beeswax (I used these beeswax pastilles but you could use leftover candles or shavings from a brick)
An old cookie sheet (that can be reserved for beeswax only)
A paintbrush (that can be reserved for beeswax only)
What you do:
Preheat your oven to 150 degrees (or lowest setting).
Lay a piece of fabric on the cookie sheet and cover with beeswax like this:
I folded my fabric in half so that I could make larger pieces. It worked fine that way. I did have to add more beeswax than is in the picture though.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven and wait a few minutes for the beeswax to melt.
Use the paintbrush to spread the beeswax to coat the whole piece of fabric. I found that it worked best to leave the cookie sheet in the oven while doing this but you can take it out too as long as you work fast.
When the fabric is covered in beeswax peel it off of the cookie sheet and hang to dry/cool (this takes just a few minutes).
Now you can use pinking sheers to cut the edges or just start using your beeswax fabric food wrap!
Washing and care: Spot clean with cool water (warm water will melt the wax). I don’t know for sure but I would guess leaving them in the sun would also melt the wax, so, don’t do that :).
You can definitely sew these into bags, which I plan to do at some point, so keep an eye out for a few more tutorials!
Have you tried making your own reusable food wrap or bags?
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Wow, what a great idea!! I wouldn’t have ever thought that you could make this, and create less plastic waste. That’s awesome! I will be trying it. :)
Thanks for sharing on Natural Living Monday!
Every little bit helps, right? :)
SOOOOO cool!!! Love this!
I would love if you would come and share this on my Tuned-in Tuesday blog hop tomorrow! http://www.healthyrootshappysoul.com/2013/04/tuned-in-tuesday-blog-hop-3.html
Thanks for the invite!
Very neat idea! I’ll have to give it a try!
Blessings,
Gloria @ resourcefulgals.blogspot.com
This is a fascinating idea! I wash and reuse our plastic bags, but they eventually do get holes in them and can be a pain to wash. I love the idea of using fabric and beeswax that I already have, and avoiding plastic in a whole new way!
Found your great post through Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways. :)
I totally have this same project on my to-do list! Awesome! Thanks for the tutorial — I’ll have to reference it when I make my own!
I’ve been wanting to make my own chapstick but have waited because I didn’t want to buy beeswax for just one project. Thanks for this idea!
That’s what I bought my beeswax for originally too :)
Wow! That is so neat! I didn’t know you could make this kind of thing. I wonder if it would work to sew it into snack or sandwich bags…do you think? or do you think the wax wouldn’t work with the needle of a sewing machine and such. Thanks for the idea
I would love if you would share this at my link party. http://www.realcoake.com/2013/04/real-family-fun-8.html
Take care,
KC
I think it would work to sew them. I plan on doing that sometime so I’ll let you know how it goes :)
fantastic! I’ve been looking for a solution like this for a while. Thank you so much for sharing this! Going to share this on facebook and pinterest too!
You’re welcome :)
I love this idea! And so simple! Thanks so much for sharing on Natural Living Monday! I have not posted this weeks yet but Ill share a secret… you were our top featured post. :)
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know :)
This is great! We have a ton of beeswax since we keep bees, and I am always looking for fun ways to use the wax. I am going to try this! Thank you so much :)
Hi there,
I was wondering if you ever sewed this fabric into snack bags?
I want to do this but I also do not want to gum up my sewing machine.
Thanks,
Leonora
No, I haven’t yet :( If you do give it a try I’d love to hear about it!
Hi, I have just tried making these using “Melted down from candles used at worship in a Russian Orthodox Church” – sold on ebay as “pure, certified genuine beeswax”. Anyway it didn’t work – the fabric (plain calico) dried stiff and not flexible, and not sticking to itself, like the beeswax wraps I had seen at a market. I am wanting some advice – do you think it was the wax that was the problem? If I get pure cosmetic-grade beeswax will it work properly?
Yikes! It sounds like it may be the wax. I’ve never heard of that happening with pure beeswax.