Wax emulsions particularly those containing dyestuffs or colourless pigments such as titanium dioxide are preserved from decomposition or deterioration due to storage in metal vessels by the addition, before or after the preparation of the emulsion, of oxygen-containing substances which are readily reduced by hydrogen at normal temperature, e.g. peroxides, such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium peroxide, or benzoyl peroxide, perborates, percarbonates or persulphates, aromatic nitro-compounds, particularly the water-soluble compounds as the alkali-metal salts of nitrobenzoic acids, nitrophthalic acids and nitrobenzene sulphonic acids. These substances may be added to the water used to prepare the emulsion or to the fused wax, preferably in amounts of the order of 10 gms. or less per kilogram of emulsion. Suitable waxes include carnauba wax, candelilla wax, shellac wax, beeswax, Japan wax, plant wax, montan wax, chinese insect wax and the bleaching and purification products thereof, and also synthetic waxes and mixtures of the above waxes. Organic solvents such as turpentine or benzine may also be present. The emulsions are suitable for use as cleansing and polishing agents, e.g. shoe creams, coating masses, wood wax stains, floor polishes, motor car polishes and furniture polishes. According to examples: (1) a saponified emulsion is preferred from a mixture of the waxes obtained in accordance with examples 2 and 4 of Specification 296,145, [Class 91], and example 1 of Specification 324,631, [Class 91], colophony, paraffin wax, potassium carbonate, water and the dyestuff Metanil Yellow extra, and a small quantity of sodium perborate or an alkali metal salt of a nitro-phthalic acid is added before the emulsion solidifies. It may be used as a shoe cream. (2) A coloured emulsion is preferred from a mixture of beeswax, Japan wax, carnauba wax, water, potassium carbonate, the dyestuff Mars Red G. and oil of turpentine. Sodium meta nitro-benzoate is added. (3) A shoe cream is prepared by emulsifying and saponifying a mixture of wax obtainable according to example 1 of Specification 324,631 oxidized montan wax obtained according to example 1 of Specification 305,552, [Class 91], Marseilles soap, water, Sorbin Red, and oil of turpentine. Benzoyl peroxide is then added. (4) A coloured wax emulsion (wood wax stain) is prepared from a mixture of a wax obtained in accordance with example 4 of Specification 296,145, oxidized and esterified montan wax according to example 2 of Specification 296,145, crude montan wax, colophony, spirit, 20 per cent ammonia, water and Thiazine Red R. The sodium salt of metanitrobenzene sulphonate is added. (5) A wood wax stain consists of beeswax, 20 per cent ammonia, water and Cotton Scarlet. The sodium salt of para-nitrobenzoic acid is added. (6) An emulsion is prepared from candelilla wax, synthetic wax obtained according to example 1 of Specification 324,631, wax obtained according to example 1 of Specification 305,552, Marseilles soap, paraffin wax, the condensation product from 1 mol of oleyl alcohol and 20 mols of ethylene oxide, benzine and water. The potassium salt of para-nitrobenzoic acid is added. (7) An emulsion is prepared from a mixture of a product obtained according to example 1 of Specification 324,631 bleached with chromic acid dissolved in sulphuric acid, product according to example 4 of Specification 296,145, Marseilles soap, pale yellow carnauba wax, paraffin wax, water and oil of turpentine. The potassium salt of a nitrophthalic acid is added. The emulsion may be used as a polishing agent. Specifications 388,876 and 388,877 also are p referred to.