hand with a rag to dust the wood furniture

This is an old fashioned (not totally natural but very effective) recipe that Wendyl found in one of her books, it used to be called ‘Merry Wives of Windsor Balm’.

I’m not sure what the addition of lemon balm does to this, as the smell of turps somewhat overpowers the lemon scent, but it is such a good polish I didn’t mess with the recipe.

It will solidify over time, but you simply need to heat it by sitting it in the sun or next to a heater for a while and then give it a good shake to restore it to its glorious unctuous self.

DIY Merry Wives Furniture Polish

250 ml turps
80 g beeswax
20 g Sunlight Soap, grated
250 ml tea, made from infusing a handful of lemon balm leaves in boiling water
20 drops essential oil

Place beeswax and turps in a double boiler. Heat gently and do not take your eye off the mixture, as turps is highly flammable. Do not breathe in or get this on your skin.

When they are combined put to one side and melt the grated soap in the lemon balm tea. When both mixtures are cool mix together until creamy then add the essential oil. Pour into a wide-mouthed jar.

To use put a little on a cloth and polish away.

Tags: , ,