Our drinking horns are made for celebration, storytelling, and good company—and like all natural products, they need proper care to keep them looking and performing their best.

Each Vildnfri drinking horn is sealed with a food-grade lacquer to help protect it from liquids and enhance its longevity. With the right care, your horn can serve you for years of mead, ale, and memory-making.

How to Clean Your Drinking Horn

• Wash after each use with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap.

• Use a soft cloth or sponge—no harsh scrubbing or abrasives.

• Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue.

• Never put your horn in the dishwasher.

• Let it air dry completely before storing.

While some sellers claim food-grade lacquer is safe for hot liquids, we do not recommend using hot drinks in your horn. High heat may compromise the seal or alter the horn’s shape over time.

What Can I Drink From It?

Not all beverages are horn-friendly. Some liquids can damage the seal or the horn itself.

Recommended:

• Beer and Mead – Traditionally consumed in drinking horns and considered safe.

• Wine – Generally safe, especially with modern lacquered or sealed horns.
• Water – Always safe and a great everyday choice. Hydrate in style with our drinking horns.

Use With Caution:

• Strong spirits (high-percentage alcohol) – May degrade the horn or its sealant over time.

• Aggressive or acidic drinks – Like soda, energy drinks, or citrus juices, which can damage interior coatings or cause breakdown of the horn’s lining.

In general, it’s best to stick with beer, mead wine, and water, and avoid hot or highly acidic beverages.

Important Considerations

Cleaning

• Always wash thoroughly after each use with cool or lukewarm water and mild soap.

• Avoid hot water or dishwashers.

Sealant Type

The interior lining of your horn determines what it can safely hold:

• Beeswax-lined horns – Do not use hot liquids. Beeswax can melt or soften. These horns do best with water, beer, wine, and other low-proof drinks.

• Modern coatings (like lacquer or polyurethane) – Offer greater protection, but we still recommend avoiding hot liquids and aggressive beverages to preserve the finish.

Always follow care recommendations for your specific horn, especially if resealed or relined by hand.

Optional: Resealing with Beeswax

Over time, lacquer seals may wear or degrade—especially with frequent use. To extend the life of your horn, you can reseal it using natural beeswax. Here’s how:

How to Seal Your Horn with Beeswax:

1. Use a pot you don’t mind dedicating to wax use.

2. Melt a bag of beeswax pellets over low heat.

3. Carefully pour the wax into your horn, rotate to coat, then pour it back into the pot.

4. Let the horn cool completely before using.

5. When the wax in the pot cools, cover with plastic wrap for future use.

Storage Tips

• Store in a dry, cool place, out of direct sunlight or heat.

• Ensure your horn is fully dry before putting it away.

A Note on Natural Materials

Each Vildnfri horn is unique—shaped by nature, polished by hand, and sealed for use. Variations in color, texture, or capacity are part of the horn’s natural beauty and character.

With proper care, your horn can be part of many toasts, tales, and traditions to come.

Raise it high. Drink well. Be wild & free.