Brilliant ways you can use these 3 non-toxic beeswax products for a healthier home without micro-plastics

With recent studies revealing the harmful and worrying health effects of microplastics, it's more important than ever to use non-toxic items in our homes. That's why beeswax and beeswax products are quickly becoming must-have non-toxic staples in the kitchen and beyond.

Swapping out your plastic storage and other items that may shed microplastics into your food or onto your skin will reduce your risk of related hormone disruption, inflammation. It'll also reduce the chance of microplastic exposure, which has been found in patients with dementia, finding its way to your brain and arteries.

Here, beekeepers and plastic-reduction experts share their non-toxic home essentials to help you harness the natural versatility beeswax products offer so you can overhaul your kitchen food storage, home fragrances, leather couches, and more.

3 must-have non-toxic beeswax products for your home

1. Beeswax food wraps

In an era when almost everyone and anyone is looking to be more sustainable at home by ditching micro-plastics, the dangers of traditional cling wrap and plastic food containers have never been more apparent. In fact, a study entitled Are Dangerous Chemicals Getting into Your Food from Plastic Containers and Plastic Wrap? by the National Center for Health Research confirmed these dangers as a very real concern.

For this reason, plastic containers and cling wrap are among the toxic household items Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved here at Homes & Gardens, has stopped buying, and beeswax wraps make the perfect alternative.

Andra Janieks from 5 Gyres Institute agrees, saying, 'As somebody who works on plastic reduction for my full-time job, I'm a huge fan of beeswax products to reduce single-use plastics in everyday life. Replacing plastic wrap with beeswax wraps is one of my favorite plastic-free swaps. Plastic film is not recyclable, so it either ends up in the landfill or the environment.

'Also, plastic film can release microplastics and other toxins into the food it wraps, posing a threat to human health.'

Beeswax wraps, on the other hand, are easy to use, reusable, and come in many fun designs.

Paul Vagg, award-winning beekeeper, and founder, proprietor, and apiculturist at Bee Naturals, explains, 'Beeswax food wraps are sections of cotton fabric, cut to different sizes according to what you want to wrap, coated in beeswax, making them bendable and sticky. They are great for wrapping cheese, bread, fruit, and more, and will keep it as fresh as cling film for longer. However, they can not be used on raw meats.'

Another amazing plus about this microplastic switch in the kitchen is that it can easily be washed under the tap and dried before reuse, which is a clever cleaning trick to reduce plastic use at home. And, if they are losing their stick, 'A simple iron between some greaseproof paper will restore them,' adds Paul.

Other eco-friendly food containers we recommend here at Homes & Gardens are those made of glass, such as the Anchor Hocking Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids available at Walmart. Chiana recently made this non-toxic glass storage kitchen swap herself, describing it as a 'game changer' for both her health and organization.

Most glass food storage items come with silicone or bamboo lids, both of which are food-safe and non-toxic.

All prices correct at time of publication.

2. Candles

There's something so luxurious about lighting one of your best candles, but did you know they can be toxic, for instance, if they include parrafin? So, when it comes to picking non-toxic candles, why not opt for a beeswax alternative, such as the BeeTheLight Beeswax Jar Candle available at Walmart.

Amy Keller is a beeswax candle maker, who has been pouring beeswax into beautiful reusable vessels since 2013 at her company apidae. As she explains, 'We mostly burn candles inside the home. That means that we are putting the by-products of that candle into the air we breathe.

'Beeswax candles are 100% natural, made by bees.' In contrast, Amy adds, paraffin scented candles are toxic (although most home-scenting options are safe for use), releasing harmful carcinogens into the air, with synthetic fragrances added to release yet more toxins into the air when the candle is lit.

Therefore, as Amy warns, people with allergies, sinus problems, and asthma are often unable to enjoy burning a candle comfortably.

'Beeswax candles are a natural alternative to a scented candle and do not contain any toxic ingredients,' she says, recommending them as a great alternative.

They also do not need any additional, synthetic fragrances, making them a great way to make a home smell nice when you're sensitive to fragrance, with a naturally sweet, honey scent that works in any space. Importantly, Amy highlights the importance of only purchasing beeswax candles made from 100% beeswax.

If you love a crafty DIY project, you can also try making beeswax candles, with beeswax sheets or sets such as the Lacaser Beeswax Candle Making Kit available at Amazon, which is easy to do, even as a beginner.

3. Leather conditioner

After cleaning a leather sofa, or cleaning leather shoes, it's important to condition the leather to stop it from drying out and cracking. And, as beekeeper Paul explains, beeswax and its properties do not deteriorate over time, making it perfect for the care of leather products.

For this, Mateo Kaiser, certified beekeeper and owner of Swarmed, the largest platform in the U.S. connecting people with beekeepers who safely rescue and rehome honey bees, recommends the Beeswax Leather Conditioner Restorer & Polish available at Amazon.

'I've made polish myself from the beeswax my bees produce, but theirs is also great,' he says. 'It leaves my leather boots shiny and smelling amazing, and it's always really satisfying to sit down and give my boots some TLC.'

Additionally, Mateo highlights just how precious beeswax is, noting that it takes about six to eight kilograms of honey for bees to produce just one kilogram of wax, with a single bee only producing a few milligrams of wax in her lifetime.

'It's an amazing product that is and should be appreciated,' he says, and we couldn't agree more.

Meet our experts

When making the switch to non-toxic beeswax products, it's worth noting that there are plenty more toxic items to get rid of around the home – from non-stick cookware to scented plug-ins.