How to Use Wax Paste on Painted Furniture

A wax paste finish adds a gentle sheen to any painted piece of furniture. Though a wax paste finish takes a longer time to apply than a spray coat of polyurethane, the resulting finish is much more appealing. A wax finish will protect your furniture from moisture; water will simply bead up on the surface. Wax paste is available from several different manufacturers and usually contains a blend of beeswax and conditioning oils. Pure beeswax can be warmed and used on furniture as well using these directions, but it it will be more expensive than using a commercial wax paste.

Wax paste
2 soft cotton, lint-free cloths

Instructions

- 1
  Use one of the cloths to put the wax on the furniture. Bundle the cloth in your hand and rub it on the wax paste in a circular motion. Rub it for about a minute to warm and soften the wax.
- 2
  Remove the cloth and rub it onto a section of the furniture. This will apply a thin layer of wax to the painted surface. Work on one part of the furniture at a time, and cover about 6 to 8 inches of surface with each application of wax. Repeat applying wax until the section you have chosen is covered.
- 3
  Continue adding wax to the other parts of the furniture. When you have coated the entire surface, allow the piece to sit for 30 minutes to give the wax time to set up.
- 4
  Use the second cloth and buff the entire piece of furniture to a soft sheen. Rub in a circular motion and cover about 6 to 8 inches of surface at a time. Buffing will remove some of the wax and leave behind a thin, even layer. If you accidentally take off too much wax, you can reapply more as needed.

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