Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Making whitewash
• Method 2 of 2: Kind of whitewashing on furniture
• Tips
• Warnings

Whitewashing is a type of liner commonly used as a sealant inside farm sheds and chicken coops. Whitewashing is used as a non-toxic and safe for animal health paint or sealant, and it is made by mixing crushed lime with water. Many people like the look of the whitewash, as it lays down in a rather thin layer and allows you to see the natural texture of the wood. Painting home furniture with whitewash has become fashionable. Although it is not recommended to paint furniture with traditional whitewash, as it is easy to wash, you can achieve this look by diluting latex paint in water.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Making whitewash

1. 1 Take whatever you need. To make a traditional whitewash, you will need a few items that can be purchased at a hardware store.
   • Slaked lime, which is also called construction or masonry lime. See, do not use garden lime, as it is a completely different substance.
   • Salt
   • Water
   • Big bucket
   • Respirator, goggles and gloves
2. 2 Prepare the whitewash. Take a large bucket and mix everything in it to create a whitewash. Be sure to wear personal protective equipment to minimize the potential damage from powdered lime. It will be enough to wear a respirator, goggles and gloves.
   • Pour 4 liters of water into a bucket and add 400 grams of salt, then stir well until the salt dissolves.
   • Pour 0.8-1 kg of slaked lime into salt water.
   • Stir well until the lime dissolves.
   • The resulting mixture will be less viscous than conventional paint.
3. 3 Paint with whitewash. Take a paintbrush, roller or airbrush and whitewash whatever you want.
4. 4 Let the whitewash dry. Wait until the whitewash is completely dry. When dry, the whitewash will turn white.

Method 2 of 2: Kind of whitewashing on furniture

1. 1 First, you should take everything you need. To create a whitewash look on your furniture, you will need a few items that you can purchase from a hardware store.
   • White latex paint
   • Sandpaper, sanding pad or orbital hand sander
   • Water
   • Water based polyurethane if you need a sealant
   • Rag
   • Bucket or other container
   • Paint brush
2. 2 Sand the surface of the furniture. Whitewashing works best on untreated wood, so you will need sandpaper, a sanding pad, or an orbital hand sander to sand the surface of your furniture. This will remove the trim that was already on the furniture and prepare it for whitewashing.
3. 3 Wipe the furniture with a dry cloth. Before you apply the whitewash, you must remove any wood flour that remains after sanding. This will also make the final finish smoother. Take a dry rag and wipe the furniture to remove any dust from it.
4. 4 Prepare the whitewash. Take a bucket or other container and dilute the paint and water in it, in a 1: 1 ratio, and then stir well. This will thin the latex paint and make it look more like a traditional whitewash. When the paint is dry, you can see the natural texture of the wood through it.
5. 5 Paint the furniture with whitewash. Take a paintbrush and paint the whitewash on the furniture, making long strokes along the grain.
   • Paint in small portions as the whitewash dries quickly.
   • Wait until the paint is completely dry and then apply additional coats of paint to get the desired result.
6. 6 Finishing finish. Once the paint is dry, you can apply a water-based polyurethane to the furniture. It will serve as a sealant and finish. It is not necessary to do this, but with it the whitewash will last much longer.
   • Choose a matte or satin finish.

Tips

• Traditional whitewash is water-soluble, and if you apply it to an area that might get wet, you will need to tint it from time to time.
• The whitewash will get whiter and whiter as it dries, so wait a few hours or until it's completely dry to see if you need a second coat.
• When painting furniture, be sure to paint in the direction of the wood grain.

Warnings

• If you don't apply sealant to painted furniture, the paint will be more susceptible to wear and tear.
• It is advisable to use whitewash indoors, as it does not tolerate moisture well.
• Lime is highly corrosive, so use extreme caution when handling it. Wear a respirator when scooping it up, otherwise you may inhale limestone dust.Also wear safety glasses and gloves when handling lime.