Wooden items can be very beautiful but a lot of them will not last for a lifetime if not adequately protected. This is why manufacturers of wooden furniture, accessories and toys make use of wood finishes that will help preserve the structure and integrity of wood. This way, wooden products can serve their purpose for longer periods of time. Furthermore, wood finishes can help make wooden items more beautiful and smoother to the touch.

However, many of the wood finishes used by major world industries today contain substances that can be detrimental to the health of people who get exposed to them. Volatile organic compounds, carcinogens and endocrine disruptors are only some of the chemicals found in synthetic wood finishes that can harm people and the environment. Nature, however, has better alternatives:

Bee’s oil or beeswax. Beeswax is biodegradable and can be used to make bee’s oil, a form that can be easily applied on wood. Beeswax is a natural wax produced by bees which offers great protection from moisture and even has a natural, pleasant scent which is not too overpowering. Just be careful when applying it to light or white surfaces because it does have a bit of a yellow hue to it.

Linseed oil. Derived from flax seed, only the pure type should be applied to avoid the petroleum solvents and metallic drying agents that are sometimes mixed to it for faster drying. Like bee’s oil or beeswax, it has a yellowish hue to it and should be applied only to appropriate surfaces.

Tung oil. Tung oil is derived from the tung tree which is endemic to Far East Asia. It provides an excellent, varnish-like finish and can seal the wood very well. Be wary of synthetic versions of the product though and make sure to buy only the pure kind. It can be mixed with citrus solvent to make its consistency thinner.

Shellac. Shellac is a kind of resin excreted by the female lac bug to make its cocoon. It is processed to produce wood finish and even non-toxic food glaze and brush-on food colorant. It is a very tough finishing material and is known worldwide as a high-quality primer, sanding and sealant material. It is also an effective odor-blocker and it also provides excellent insulation.

These are some of the natural wood finishes which you can use for the wooden items in your home. They’re safe, effective and they are environment-friendly too!

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