Recipes for eco-friendly polishes

Furniture polish

• 125g beeswax, grated
• 500ml raw linseed oil (for dark timber) or olive oil (for pale timber)
• 1 tsp lavender or rosemary essential oil

Melt the wax in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Carefully add the oil and stir over heat for three minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in essential oil. Transfer to a clean jar and allow to set. Using a soft cloth, rub sparingly into the timber, leave for 30 minutes, then polish off.

Brass cleaner

This low-toxicity cleaner is suitable for deeply tarnished or intricately etched brass items. You can buy citric acid at supermarkets.

• 25g citric acid
• 3 litres hot water

Dissolve citric acid in hot water in a large pot or the kitchen sink. Place pieces of brass in the solution and leave to soak for five minutes. Scrub gently with an old toothbrush, then rinse and dry.

Metal polish

Use this to clean brass, copper, bronze, pewter and stainless steel.

• plain flour
• salt
• white vinegar

Combine equal parts flour and salt, then add enough vinegar to make a stiff paste. Apply sparingly to metal items and leave to dry for one to two hours. Rinse off and polish with a soft cloth. Take care not to use too much polish, as it may wear away details of raised designs.

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