Did you know that indoor air is typically three times more polluted than outdoor air? In addition to all of the cleaning products and chemical "air fresheners", paints and finishes are a huge contributor to this problem.
The manufacturers of home air purifiers would love it if you bought their products to combat this problem, but why not try to eliminate it all together?
Paint manufacturers are beginning to get the hint, with many now offering low- and no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) - a huge source of the toxins that make paint harmful to the indoor air quality.
So now you can buy eco-friendly paint - but what fun is that! Long before paint manufacturers began formulating paint in massive quantities, paint was made at home - with milk!
There are numerous recipes for milk paint, but they all have 2 things in common: milk and lime. The combination of the two seem to produce a paint that can adhere to almost anything. Color can be added with natural dyes or pigments. In the past they even used livestock blood! Yuck!
Making milk paint is extremely easy, typically with just 3-5 ingredients, depending on the recipe. Nowadays, colors can be added using dyes from art stores. Keep in mind that if you do this, make a batch large enough for the entire project, not just a single coat. That's because it is very unlikely that you will be able to make a second batch in the exact same color.
So here is a recipe that I found for homemade milk paint. Enjoy!
Recipe for Milk Paint
(For approximately 1.5 gallons of milk paint)
- 1 gallon Skim Milk
- 2 cups Builders Lime, also called Hydrated Lime (do NOT use quick lime)
- 1 quart Linseed Oil (the boiled type)
- ½ cup Salt
- Dye - add as needed
- Cheesecloth
Mix enough Skim Milk with the Builders Lime to make a paste. Add the rest of the Skim Milk and mix well. Add the Salt and stir to dissolve. Add the Linseed Oil. Add the dye in small amounts to achieve desired color.
Strain with cheesecloth to remove small lumps.
Use within 2 days of mixing
Tiffany D. Wilson has lived in the South Bay of Los Angeles County for almost 10 years. She and her family enjoy the safety and rich family features that the beach communities of the South Bay have to offer, including a close and neighborly community. Also, having experienced an out-of-country move to California over 10 years ago, she is perfectly positioned to assist foreign buyers in their search for real estate in the South Bay and additional surrounding communities of Los Angeles and Orange County. She can be reached directly at 310-503-0557.
Comments(6)