Beeswax is a wonderful natural wax that is made by honey bees. Humans use beeswax in many ways in our homes and shops. One of the most popular uses for this special wax is to keep your feet drier. Waterproofing leather boots with beeswax is an age old technique. A great way to breath some new life into your old hiking boots.

Beeswax Waterproofing for Boots

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Homemade beeswax waterproofing used on brown leather boots image.

Beeswax has a long history of being used to repel water from materials such as belts, tents, backpacks, and yes – footwear. You will find it listed as an ingredient in many waterproofing products.

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Of course, it is not only leather boots that benefit from an application of wax – you can do the same with many canvas sneakers too.

However, you should understand that the wax can change the appearance of the shoe surface. Our goals is to protect our feet – not make a style statement. The color of the shoe may darken after waterpoofing with wax.

Maybe you are hesitate to do this with new boots (though it would work). It is an excellent way to keep your toes dry inside older boots used around the farm or on the hiking trail.

Why is Beeswax Waterproof?

The natural water repellency properties of this wax from bees are very evident when applied to materials using a little heat.

When this wax is rubbed onto the surface of materials such as leather and then heated, some of the wax works deep into the fibers or fabric of the material.

Beeswax is not water soluble so it blocks moisture from being able to penetrate the shoe leather. It protects in the same way that beeswax is used in hair care. It helps seal and protect.

Of course, this waterproofing treatment doesn’t last forever. If you wear your boots a lot in wet dirty conditions, you will need to reapply beeswax at some time in the future.

Best Beeswax to Use

The most inexpensive way to purchase wax is from a beekeeper. They usually have some ready for sale that has been cleaned and is ready to use.

And of course, you can buy it online. Beeswax pellets are easy to use and easy to melt but you do pay a bit more for this convenience.

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I prefer using blocks of natural beeswax only because I can more readily tell that they are pure wax without additives.

If you buy a block of wax from a beekeeper, you can carefully use a kitchen grater to shave the larger block into smaller pieces. This makes the wax easier to melt.

using kitchen grater to grate raw beeswax block

Quick Tip on Melting Your Beeswax

You can melt a small amount in either a double boiler or use a can set in a pot of water to simulate a double boiler. This is the safest way of melting beeswax.

For those of you who do not wish to use the double boiler method, you can use a microwave to melt it. However, remember that beeswax is flammable if overheated. You must melt it slowly in small increments of time and do not leave it unattended.

Beeswax is easy to work with but it is not easy to clean up. Most crafters have dedicated pots, bowls or spoons to use when working with wax.

A disposable bowl may be a useful tool for melting your wax for this project. But, be sure you do not choose one that is wax-coated…LOL Duh, I didn’t really think that would work did I?

wax coated paper bowl burns in microwave when melting wax

Prepare Your Boots

If your boots are anything like mine, they have some dirt encrusted here and there. Clean the outside surface of your boots thoroughly.

They do not have to look pristine (I think mine have a few paint specks). However, be sure to remove any loose dirt from the entire boot.

If you use a damp cloth to clean the boots, they must be allowed to dry before proceeding. Wax must only be applied to boots that are completely dry or it will not adhere properly.

old boots ready to waterproof with surface dirt removed

Other Beeswax Recipes

Now that you have a little beeswax on hand, don’t waste it. It never spoils and can be used for many applications. Beeswax can be used in many homemade soap recipes. When mixed with oils, it forms a wonderful basic leather polish for belts, etc.

You can even use beeswax in sewing projects – such a cute little gift. And, some people add a little beeswax to their hair care routine!

Beeswax Waterproofing for Boots

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC

Using pure beeswax you can waterproof your leather boots for work or hiking. Great for use in around the garden too.

3.80 from 5 votes

Print Instructions Pin for later

Tools

heat gun (or hairdryer)
small bowl

Supplies

2 oz beeswax
3 pieces tshirt material – soft cloth
1 piece old toothbrush
1 pair leather boots
2 pieces paper to protect counter

Instructions

Warm the Boots : Prepare your surface with some type of paper underneath to catch drips. You can use aluminum foil, wax paper, or even paper towels for easy clean up.
If the weather is cold, warm the boots up just a bit before applying wax. This is to help the wax adhere to the shoe surface.
Safely melt beeswax: Melt a small about of beeswax in a suitable container. The container should have an opening large enough to dip a cloth or brush into.
Normally I always melt beeswax in a double boiler but you only need a small amount.
If you use a glass measuring cup (like I did) in the microwave, have a pot holder handy because that handle gets hot!!
Apply wax to boots: Once the beeswax is melted, apply wax to one boot at a time.
You can use a small piece of cotton t-shirt material or similar clean cloth. Just dip a corner into the wax and rub it onto the leather.
Try to apply an even coat. I like using a small paint brush, tooth brush or any soft brush – better than a cloth because I feel like I have more control.
Rub wax into leather surface: As the wax cools, your boot will take on a white appearance. That’s okay – it’s not going to stay that way.
Continue until the leather surfaces of both boots are coated with beeswax. Be sure to coat every part of the boot paying special attention to the toe and heal area.
Use a toothbrush or q tip to work the wax into the seams of the boot. Don’t miss any of the cracks or crevasses.
Seal wax with heat: Now, we want to seal the wax into the boot leather. This is done by applying some extra heat.
Using a hairdryer is one safe method of sealing the wax. However, using a heat gun is much better.
The heat gun is easier to work with because you only have heat coming out of it not a strong force of air.
Most heat guns have a high and low setting and you may be surprised at the other uses you will find for them around the house.
Heat and Buff: As you work with the heat gun, take care. You do not want to overheat the shoe.
Keep the heat source several inches away from the shoe leather. Use a clean soft towel to buff away the excess wax.
Heat a small section of the boot, then use a circular motion to rub the wax into the leather.
Repeat until you have worker over the entire leather surface of the work boot.

Notes

** This is best done with smooth leather in my opinion. Suede surfaces may still become water resistant but might have a noticeable change in appearance.

**Always test on a small area first. Not all leather absorbs wax in the same way. Make sure you are okay with the look before coating the entire boot.

** Take care to avoid using too much wax. Go slowly, work it in.

Learn more about bees and using products from the hive!Join me on Instagram – @carolina_honeybees

Boot Waterproofing Tips

As with any project, it is a good idea to try this on a small spot first before you coat the whole shoe. Even though it works well with many surfaces, it is best to test .

This waterproofing treatment should keep your hiking or leather work boots dry for a while. But, if you get them really wet and dirty you may have to repeat the process in the future.

This is a great way to get improve the longevity of those old boots and make them more water resistant. A beeswax leather polish will help keep any leather goods more durable for a much longer time.

You may find that this application offer some protection from stains too. Grease and other types of debris are less likely to stick to the leather.

But be cautious with a suede boot as color changes may occur. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the boot that will be exposed to water.

This natural waterproofing agent will help keep your toes dry on the wettest days. Mine look so good sitting out by the pond – I can’t wait for the next rainy day!

Consider some other ways to use beeswax for protection of your favorite things: Natural Spoon Butter, or Furniture Polish. Small cakes of wax for sewing projects also make great gifts!

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