8 Little-Known Ways To Use Paraffin Wax

Written by Shivani K  • 

What comes to your mind when we say “paraffin wax”? We’re sure all of you are picturing a candle. After all, wax is just wax. We researched a little and we have found a number of ways that wax can be used. And we thought that the only utility it had was to be transformed into a candle. Let’s get to know this humble ingredient a little better and take a look at some of the ways in which it can be used in our everyday lives.

In This Article

What Is Paraffin Wax?

Image: Shutterstock

It is a colorless, soft solid that is composed of saturated hydrocarbons (1). It is used in a number of things like lubrication, insulation, and even in cosmetic treatments.

1. For Preserving Jams

Image: Shutterstock

Of late, home gardening has become very popular. Most of us have begun to grow different varieties of fruits in our backyard or in the terrace garden. One of the ways we use these fruits is by making fruit jam from them at home. But the problem with these jams is that they tend to spoil quite easily due to the absence of chemical-based preservatives in them. One way to prevent this is to seal the jam, and make sure that it isn’t exposed to any air. For that, we can make use of paraffin wax. Follow the steps given below in order to do so:

  • Use food grade wax only.
  • Firstly, you need to melt it.
  • Now pour the melted wax slowly over the jam in the jar and rotate it, so that it settles evenly atop the jam.

2. For Sealing Bottles

Image: Shutterstock

How can one store homemade wines, oils or the even more irresistible homemade brews? You cannot just store them in a water bottle, right? Well, you can, if you make use of paraffin wax to seal the bottles. Do it this way:

  • You need to melt the wax.
  • Cover the neck of the bottle with some sellotape. This is done so that the bottle can be opened easily.
  • Now take the bottle and dip it into the wax, and make sure that all sides are covered with it.
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Funky Buddha Brew (@funkybuddhabrew) on

3. For Lubricating Drawers

Image: Shutterstock

Wedged in or stuck drawers are a common problem that we all face almost on a daily basis. This is because the wood tends to expand a bit during winters, making it difficult for us to operate the drawers efficiently. The best solution for this is to take a wax bar and run it over the tracks or the frames of the drawers. This will help the drawers to slide out smoothly. You can use this trick on sliding doors as well.

4. For Repairing Zippers

Image: Shutterstock

Are you stuck with a zipper that won’t function unzip or zip up right? The solution is simple, just get your hands on some paraffin wax. All you need to do is clean the zipper first. After doing this, take some paraffin wax and rub it up and down the zipper and voila! You will find that it works smoothly.

5. For Shoveling The Snow

Image: Shutterstock

If you live in areas where it snows, then you have definitely faced the problem of clearing your snow-covered driveways. You are left with no choice but to manually shovel and clear the snow. And while doing so, the snow tends to stick to the shovel and starts accumulating on it, making it difficult for you to do the work. To counter this, rub paraffin wax on the snow shovel, it will prevent the snow from sticking onto it.

6. For Cleaning Your Cutting Board

Image: Shutterstock

These days, the cutting boards aren’t just used for chopping food; they are also used as serving trays. Therefore, keeping them neat and clean is a hygienic priority and you can do that by making use of paraffin wax. In order to do this, follow the steps given below:

  • Use food grade wax only.
  • Take a small quantity of the wax on a cloth.
  • Using this cloth, rub the entire board and leave it aside for some time so that the wax can be absorbed by the board.
  • Take another clean cloth and wipe off any residue from the board.

7. For Treating Hands

Image: Shutterstock

Being the limbs that are the most in use, our hands are often exposed to extreme temperatures, be it hot or cold. As a result, the skin on our hands tends to become dry on a regular basis and at a quicker pace. Using paraffin wax can actually make our hands smooth and soft like butter and this is how you do it:

8. For Treating Feet

Image: Shutterstock

This process resembles the one we suggested for the hands. Here’s how you do it:

  • Dip your feet slowly in a tub containing slightly cooled, melted wax. You need to repeat this step till you achieve the desired coating of wax on your feet.
  • Following this, wrap your feet with a plastic wrap and then cover them with towels.
  • After leaving it on for 10–15 minutes, you gently peel off the wax.

There you go, these were our finds of using paraffin wax the best way. Paraffin wax is a lifesaver when it comes to our everyday problems. Do you know of any other uses of paraffin wax? Leave your answers in the comments below.

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.

    Latest Articles