Milk paint has been used since the beginning of history. Milk paint was used in cave paintings and even in ancient Egyptian artifacts. It is very resistant when dry and can stand the test of time. It was also very popular in Colonial American Era furniture.
But the use of milk paint was replaced by the discovery of modern paints that are oil and latex based. Now that people have become more environmentally aware of their surroundings, there is also a renew interest in milk paint. Milk paint is safe for you and the environment because it contains no hydrocarbons or any other petroleum derivatives.
This room got a bit of cheer by painting the wall using blue milk paint. Photo from This Old House.
You can make your own milk paint using either dry milk powder or real milk. I haven’t made either of them, but would like to try soon. I think the dry version might be easier to work with. It may also be good for small projects, such as painting your furniture or terra cotta pots. You can give it a more antique look, add some rustic charm and character too.
Dry milk paint recipe: Mix a cup of powdered milk with a cup of water and add some pigment. Preferably natural earth pigments, you can find them here. Or maybe experiment with natural colors such as beets, turmeric, or even Kool-Aid.
For instructions and recipes on making your own milk paint visit Appropedia’s Curled Milk Paint Recipe. They offer helpful instructions and pictures. The colors may not look as professional as you might expect, but it does get the job done.
And you can also be sure these are all natural and contain no lead or other toxic chemicals. It’s what I would call “head-ache free” painting and environmentally friendly too.
But if you prefer, you can purchase milk paint from The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company. They have a large selection of colors. They also offer milk paint that is safe not only for people, but also for the environment.
The ingredients in the base paint are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and are all completely biodegradable. They are best used in children’s bedroom. A pint of milk paint cost about $10. Here is a little excerpt from the company:
As in originally produced home-made milk paint, we use milk protein, lime, clay, and earth pigments such as ochre, umber, iron oxide, lampblack, etc. The lime is alkaline but becomes totally inert when mixed with the slightly acid milk. We use no lead, no chemical preservatives, no fungicides. Our Milk Paint is environmentally safe and non-toxic. There is a slight milky odor when it is applied, but it is completely odorless when dry. The paint is safe for children’s furniture and toys, and can also be used for interiors of homes of people who are allergic to modern paints. The deep rich colors of Milk Paint authentically reflect those colors found on existing antique furniture and buildings. Our paint is made in small batches, using earth pigments. Modern paints cannot compare with the colors and the texture of the finish for achieving the “old” or “country look” of Colonial or Shaker furniture and interiors. And, like the paints used hundreds of years ago, the colors in our Milk Paint will not fade.
More info:
Make Safe, Natural Paint
4:19 am on April 12th, 2009
This seems interesting, I wonder if it would work for my cucumber A frame since it’s outdoor. I do need to check more into this.
12:34 am on April 14th, 2009
That would be a good idea. I am curious to see how it will work out for your veggie frame.
Based on my research, it’s pretty simple, and best of all - nontoxic! Good luck.
9:14 pm on April 14th, 2009
I’ll give it a try this weekend and see how it works, this should be a fun project to do and I’ll keep you posted.
3:56 pm on April 19th, 2009
[...] to grow food on, especially cucumber vines to climb on them, and when I read Cambree’s post of ‘Milk Paint’, it seems simple enough for me to follow. I used 1 quart of whole milk, and 1 fl oz of green food [...]
4:41 pm on April 19th, 2009
I did get to paint my A Frames with milk paint and really liked how it stains the wood. If you’ve a chance to check out the post at my blog, I’ve posted some photos.
Your post is very helpful, thanks.
11:17 pm on April 19th, 2009
That is great!
2:34 pm on July 26th, 2011
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