To add to the land of milk, honey and beeswax,
directions for treating cloth with beeswax is explained next. This is useful
for individuals who use cloth to cover their kefir-making
jars. Cotton, linen, silks or rayon material, including nylon [the material used
for curtains e.g.] can be treated with beeswax.
This
shall...
*
seal the material so less to no air, dust, microbes and molds find their way
into the kefir.
* waterproof
the material.
* render the material bacteriostatic and
fungistatic [prevents the growth of bacteria, yeasts and mold
on the material itself].
* help to reduce chemical reactions between certain nylon
material and the acidic component of kefir.
* reduce energy cost and eliminates the use of detergent [simply
wash the waxed cloth with warm or cold water].
How to treat natural fibers [including nylon fibers or
materials] with beeswax
On a suitable surface that can withstand heat, place down
a rectangular sheet of brown paper. Place another rectangular sheet of aluminium
foil to match and mate the brown paper, edge for edge. Fold in half to make a
square, then open and lay flat once again, with foil facing upward [this it to
create a mid line seam as a reference point].
Place the material intended to be treated with beeswax, on
one side of the mid line [in the middle of the square]. Evenly distribute a small
amount of beeswax shavings over the material and then fold the paper-foil over
to sandwich the material. Pass a hot iron [set to medium] over the brown paper
to distribute an even layer of melting beeswax over the entire area of the material,
which is sandwiched between the brown paper-foil.
Quickly
open the brown paper-foil while still hot from ironing, and remove the wax treated
material. That's it! You now have beeswax treated material. You can place the
waxed material over your kefir jar, and secure it in place with an elastic rubber
band, or tie it with string.
Sealing
Terra Cotta, Stoneware, Ceramic + Plastic Containers
It may
be wise to seal Stoneware, or non-glazed or glazed terra cotta pots including
ceramic crocks with beeswax. This includes certain types of plastic containers
intended for use in fermentation. Terra cotta pots may contain amounts of heavy
metals due to contaminated clay. This was the case in Mexico, where clay with
high levels of lead fashioned into crocks was discovered. Lining the inside surface
of crocks or pots with beeswax ensures that the inner surface of the utensil
is sealed and safe for brewing. This prevents undesirable compounds from leaching
into the kefir, kefirkraut including other ferments of interest.
Method
The pot
or containers needs to be heated sufficiently in order to effectively melt beeswax
onto the inner surface of the pot or crock or bucket [in the case of plastic].
If the walls are cold, then the beeswax will not penetrate the surface, and shall
easily peel away.
Place
any terra cotta, stoneware or ceramic pot in a hot oven set to 120°C
[230°F] for 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the oven with protective mittens, and then
rub a piece of beeswax over the entire inner walls of the pot, including the
bottom and sides. Add sufficient amounts of beeswax so that
it can penetrate the surface as it melts.
Turn the pot around to force an even layer of melted beeswax over the entire
surface of the pot as it cools to room temperature. The pot is best turned slowly
by hand while it cools down, to ensure an even layer of beeswax is formed and
maintained over the surface area as it sets. You should be left with a firm coating
of beeswax over the entire inner surface of the utensil.
If the
pot is too large to fit in an oven, the inside surface may be heated with an
electric hot air-gun, or a hair dryer that produces sufficient heat, while
slowly turning the pot until the entire inner surface is sufficiently heated.
Once heated, rub a piece of beeswax onto the hot surface of the pot, to form
an even layer of melted beeswax, as explained above. A stream of hot air from
the hot air-gun or hairdryer may be used to force or guide the melted beeswax
over areas where it is needed or lacking. The pot may need
to be slowly turned on its side as it cools down, to ensure an even layer of
beeswax remains over the surface of the pot as it cools to room temperature to
set.
When lining
plastic utensils such as buckets, the same process as explained in the above
paragraph is used, using a hairdryer only. This is because a hot air-gun may
be too hot, which will burn the plastic releasing unwanted chemicals. These chemicals
are toxic and shall amalgamate with the beeswax. This [overheating] must be
avoided at all cost.
