For a cost-effective and environmentally safe way to keep food fresh in your Woodbridge apartment, consider making your own food wraps. Using beeswax, patterned fabric of your choice, and your oven, you can create a reusable food wrap that will last as long as you want it to. They’re also very easy to care for and you can customize them to fit any size container.

First, gather your ingredients. You’ll need:

Beeswax (beads are easier to use, but if you get the block you’ll need to grate it.)

Fabric (make sure it’s about the thickness of a bedsheet with a tight weave and 100% cotton)

Pinking shear (allows you to cut the fabric so it won’t fray)

Parchment paper

Baking sheet

Brush of some sort (this is optional)

Instructions:

  1. Once you have your ingredients ready, pre-heat your oven to 200F or its lowest setting.
  2. Using the shears, cut the fabric in the shapes and sizes you want, making sure to stick to traditional 8 x 8 and 11 x 11 at first. As long as the fabric can fit on your baking sheet, you can have whatever size you’d like.
  3. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper, lay your fabric down and sprinkle the beeswax over the fabric.
  4. Put the sheet in the oven letting the beeswax melt for 5-10 minutes. Pull it out and brush the beeswax around the fabric paying attention to edges and corners.
  5. Peel the fabric off the parchment paper, wave it mildly in the air for 1 to 2 minutes and then hang on the back of a chair or drying rack for it to harden.
  6. Repeat as many times as you like!

More tips for your food wraps: depending on how frequently they are used, they can last up to a year before needing another coat of wax. To clean, use a mild dish soap and cold water – not hot. Hot water will melt the wax. Simply hang them to dry in your Woodbridge apartment rental after cleaning. Since you cannot use hot water to clean the food wraps, it’s recommended you use them for fruits, vegetables, cheese, nuts, and sandwiches but not meat. Enjoy your new food wraps!