A Green Way to Whitewash Wood

Pour 2 gallons of water into a large bucket. Add 3 cups of hydrated lime and 1 cup of salt. Stir the mixture thoroughly, then add another 3 cups of lime and 1 cup of salt, and stir again. Repeat this four times -- when you're done, you will have mixed in 12 cups of lime and 4 cups of salt in total.

Prepare the wooden surface by scraping off any old paint and sanding down rough patches. Once the surface is clean, moisten the wood by wiping it down with a wet cloth. Whitewash adheres best to damp wood.

Dip a paintbrush into the whitewash mixture and apply it to the wooden surface just as you would regular paint. Use even strokes, and make sure to cover the entire surface thoroughly. It is normal for whitewash to appear thin and uneven upon first application. Rinse your paintbrush immediately after applying the whitewash so the caustic lime won't ruin the brush.

Allow the whitewash to dry for 24 hours. The blotchy appearance will go away as the whitewash dries, and it will turn white.