I love cheese but my compost does not seem to love the cheese wax. Instead I have been storing it until I could find a way to reuse cheese wax. Turns out it makes a handy fire starter.
Other reuse cheese wax ideas include:
The blocks of local cheese we buy are small wheels, covered in wax and accompanied by a sticker that cannot be recycled. I am in talks with cheese stores here in Melbourne to a find cloth bound cheese without a sticker or just simply packed in a paper box. There are a couple options, one being a 20kg wheel. Not sure how to store 20kg of cheese.
Back to the waxed cheese we have been buying from our local deli - cheese wax is a mix of paraffin and microcrystalline, both petroleum based. The wax is also coloured with food grade colours. This wax cannot be made into a candle but it does have other uses that make it reusable.
We would happily keep buying our cheese like this but the massive stickers are simply annoying and really not needed. We used to buy wedges of cheese from larger wheels that we could get in our own container. However each time we would do this, the deli would wrap a new piece of plastic cling wrap around the cheese wheel we were buying from. It kinda defeated the purpose of reducing plastic in our life, ultimately leading us to buy mini wheels of cheese in wax.
Until we can find an alternative this is what we do to reuse cheese wax.
I clean the wax, making sure there is no cheese left on it. Once clean I melt it down in a double boiler, then pour it out onto a surface and once cool enough simply roll into balls that I can store in a glass jar for use later on. If you feel like it or want to do something while watching a movie then you could roll the wax by hand using the heat of your hands to mould together.
- Sealing jars and bottles
- Seal envelopes and invitations with a wax seal kit
- Reuse the wax to coat your own hard cheese or pass onto someone who makes hard cheese at home
- Mold into figurine for fun
The blocks of local cheese we buy are small wheels, covered in wax and accompanied by a sticker that cannot be recycled. I am in talks with cheese stores here in Melbourne to a find cloth bound cheese without a sticker or just simply packed in a paper box. There are a couple options, one being a 20kg wheel. Not sure how to store 20kg of cheese.
Back to the waxed cheese we have been buying from our local deli - cheese wax is a mix of paraffin and microcrystalline, both petroleum based. The wax is also coloured with food grade colours. This wax cannot be made into a candle but it does have other uses that make it reusable.
We would happily keep buying our cheese like this but the massive stickers are simply annoying and really not needed. We used to buy wedges of cheese from larger wheels that we could get in our own container. However each time we would do this, the deli would wrap a new piece of plastic cling wrap around the cheese wheel we were buying from. It kinda defeated the purpose of reducing plastic in our life, ultimately leading us to buy mini wheels of cheese in wax.
Until we can find an alternative this is what we do to reuse cheese wax.
I clean the wax, making sure there is no cheese left on it. Once clean I melt it down in a double boiler, then pour it out onto a surface and once cool enough simply roll into balls that I can store in a glass jar for use later on. If you feel like it or want to do something while watching a movie then you could roll the wax by hand using the heat of your hands to mould together.
Thanks for this post Erin. I just got a naked deodorant bar from Lush and it has wax on the bottom of it. This has given me some ideas on how to use it when I've run out of deodorant.
ReplyDeleteThat's great to hear Katie :)
DeleteMaybe it could be used for ear plugs, they sell some made of wax.
ReplyDeleteThat is not a bad idea either Miriana
DeleteI wouldn't do this, because if the wax melting point is low enough, you could end up with it melting and clogging your ears.
DeleteHmmm not sure what else you can do with the wax, but if you have a few friends who like the same cheese you could get the 20 kg wheel and split it up. Or learn to make cheese (from Gav at greeningofgavin) or maybe he would even sell you some??
ReplyDeleteMadeleine.x
I must be an optimistic soul - I thought the wax on cheese was bees wax!
That is what I am thinking of doing Madeleine. I thought about making my own cheese but It is near impossible to get milk plastic free :(
DeleteHmmm not sure what else you can do with the wax, but if you have a few friends who like the same cheese you could get the 20 kg wheel and split it up. Or learn to make cheese (from Gav at greeningofgavin) or maybe he would even sell you some??
ReplyDeleteMadeleine.x
I must be an optimistic soul - I thought the wax on cheese was bees wax!
I buy my cheese in wax covered wheels too! I've also been contemplating what to do with it. Fire starter is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteYes it's a great idea and really works.
DeleteYou should make waxed cotton :) it's the original saran wrap. I'm actually making this this afternoon! http://myhealthygreenfamily.com/blog/wordpress/plastic-wrap-alternative-diy-beeswax-cotton-wraps/
ReplyDeleteI do make the waxed cotton wraps, but I don't use the cheese wax for these.
DeleteOr waxed canvas for a neat travel backpack! http://content.photojojo.com/diy/diy-how-to-make-a-waxed-canvas-camera-bag/
ReplyDeleteI know these both use beeswax, but it's worth a try!
Cool idea, thanks for sharing with me Alyssa
DeleteWhat about using cheese wax to make tealight candles? I'm trying to figure out if it's safe to burn the wax.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried it yet, but it would be worth exploring for sure. I wonder if the wax would be different between each cheese wax.
DeleteI have successfully refilled tealight candles with melted cheese wax.
DeleteOnce an old tealight has run out of wax, insert a new piece of cotton twine into the wick holder, and then pour in hot melted cheese wax and let it set.
Worked perfectly although I didn't wash the wax well enough so the candle smelt a bit cheesy when it burnt ;)
People need to think more zero IMPACT rather than zero waste. The energy used to heat up the double boiler as well as the water used are COSTS that need to be weighed against the benefit. I’m thinking that setting it out in the sun on a baking sheet and using a rolling pin to make wax sheets would have a lower energy and water cost overall.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perspective and thank you for sharing an alternative way to melt the wax down without using a double boiler or stove top. It is important to think about all of this. I appreciative the reminder for myself and other readers.
DeleteYou can use the wax balls as firestarters
ReplyDelete