The Complete Guide to Using Furniture Wax

"How many coats of Wax should I put on?"
"Why do I need a Wax Brush?"
"What if I used too much Wax?"'
"Is there a trick to buffing?"
"What is the best way to apply Dark Wax?"
"How do I take care of a piece of furniture I've finished with Wax?"

There are typically a number of questions regarding Furniture Wax.
For newbies and experienced furniture upcyclers alike there
is such variety and flexibility in these beautiful products
that the learning continues whether it's your first time using Wax or you're an old pro!

For example, I only recently learned that distressing by sanding with wax is a possibility!
And did you know that you can buff a waxed piece using a clean Wax Brush?!
Many of you may already know this, but hopefully you will find other useful tips here...
Let's get started!

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Wax available online

The natural ingredients contained in Chalk Paint such as 
clay, chalk and lime dry matt and chalky to the touch. 
Furniture Wax brings Chalk Paint to life 
and is an ideal product to protect and seal the finish.

Although the technique of waxing is simple,  practice and time are fantastic teachers. 
Workshops do a great deal to clarify, 
but if you are unable to attend a Workshop I cover the basics here.

Once your painted piece is dry, "paint" on Wax using a Wax Brush. 
The reasons to use a Wax Brush are many: 
You use significantly less wax; it's purpose-designed to 
grab and evenly spread the wax on to the surface;
you can easily reach into corners and detailed areas;
and it speeds the process and makes application quicker and easier.

At For The Love we carry two quality Wax Brushes
by Miss Mustard Seed designed specifically for waxing :

From left: Miss Mustard Seed's Paint-Wax Brush ($43) & the large Wax Brush ($48) in the online shop

Can you wax without a brush? 
Absolutely, just use clean, lint-free rags like T-shirts or sheets.

With the application of Furniture Wax, you will see the difference immediately 
in the  paint which will not change in colour, but intensifies and comes to life.

With Furniture Wax, a little goes a long way. 
You don't want to go too thick, it's just wasted. 
If you've accidentally applied too thick of a coat, wipe it back with a clean cloth.
Apply a thin, even coat (some compare it to applying hand lotion).
Also, you do not have to be overly careful as the buffing process and 
additional coats will fill in any missed spots.

Depending on weather, the surface and a few other unknowns, 
allow the Wax to penetrate the paint. 
This can happen right away, in an hour, or overnight. 
Wait to see absorption and once 
the "wet look" is mostly dissipated, go ahead and buff.

What Clear Wax looks when it's "wet" or just applied

When buffing, you do not have to rub extensively or hard, 
just enough to wipe away any excess and lightly buff the wax into the paint surface.
Develop a polishing style that works for you. 
Some prefer a circular motion, others back and forth.

After the first coat of wax, let the piece tell you if it wants more.
I look for a lovely, warm sheen and a smooth surface.
If you are wanting more shine, or a smoother finish, repeat the above steps — 
the more coats, the more shine you will have. 

You can add more wax even months later if you change your mind.
You can also use Chalk Paint to repaint or repair the surface if needed.
No sanding or prep necessary,  just paint!

This finish takes 30 days to cure during which you may use the piece gently.
After the 30 days, your piece is fully cured and ready to go!
Now onto Antiquing Wax...

Clear Wax and Antiquing Wax work best as a team. 
When using Dark Wax it's best to first coat your piece with Clear Wax.
This sets a base, starts the protection process and makes the Antiquing Wax easy to apply. 
Dark Wax has the potential to stain the paint when applied directly, 
but when coated with Clear Wax first, it glides on allowing 
easy manoeuvrability to accent the areas you want.

Autentico Clear Wax and Dark Wax, $20 for 250ml

Using Antiquing or Dark Wax is an effective and easy way to create an antiqued effect. 
Brush the Dark Wax over the entire piece for an allover aged effect 
or you can target areas you want to highlight.

See the beautiful results and how it authentically "ages" 
the Chalk Paint finish in the examples below:

Dark Wax at the top, Clear Wax only on the bottom over Autentico Chalk Paint in Bright Turquoise

Autentico Chalk Paint in Silver heavily Dark Waxed on left, Clear Wax finish on right

Perfectly antiqued with Autentico Dark Wax over Bright Turquoise

From left: Silver with Dark Wax; Silver with Clear Wax; Bright Turquoise with Clear Wax, Bright Turquoise with Antiquing Wax; Flesh Pink with Dark Wax; Flesh Pink unwaxed

When you have the area coated, use a clean cloth to get the finish you are after,
adding or removing Dark Wax as necessary.

Once you achieve the look you want, allow the Dark Wax to sit (I prefer overnight ) 
 then give it a quick polish to complete the job!


A gorgeous client of mine Sarah
sent me a short video of herself using the Dark Wax over Autentico Chalk Paint in White Cliff:
You can find her on instagram.com/peasnbeans3

If you find you've over-antiqued your project 
it's as simple as using a bit of Clear Wax to pull 
the Dark Wax back to the desired finish —or you can clean it off completely
as this quick video demonstrates:

To maintain your gorgeous waxed furniture, dust with a soft cloth. 
If needed, use a damp cloth to clean. 
Depending on use and/or preference, you can add a coat of Clear Wax 
on occasion for further protection and care.

For more photos of waxed projects, 
jump over to www.pinterest.com/FTLCreations 
and visit the board: Wax On, Wax Off

It's all here...for the love...
Sada