The Technique to Whitewash Cabinets

Preparation

• Whitewashing gives the best results when applied to clean wood surfaces. Removing any old paint, lacquer or stains before applying whitewash is necessary, either by sanding or with a liquid remover. Rubber gloves and safety glasses must be used when handling lime powder or lime putty because it is a caustic substance. To whitewash cabinets, it’s easiest to complete the work if the cabinet doors are first removed.

Lime Powder or Putty

• Whitewashing with lime powder or putty produces an authentic, old-fashioned appearance. Mix the powder or putty with water and apply liberally to bare wood, letting it soak into the wood and dry thoroughly. Apply either a second coat of whitewash or a coat of colored paint and let it dry before applying a third coat of whitewash. When all three coats are thoroughly dry, use a cotton cloth dipped in denatured alcohol to gently wipe the whitewashed surface so that streaks of the wood or colored paint beneath become visible.

Casein

• Casein is a milk-based paint product that produces effects similar to lime putty. It is not as caustic as lime putty or powder. It is available in powder or liquid form, to be mixed with water to a thin consistency for painting. Apply it to bare wood with a paint brush or thick sponge. Casein can be used in its cream-colored form or tinted for a light watercolor wash. Applied in a couple of coats as a thick liquid, casein creates a solid milky-white finish. Applied over a painted surface as a thin liquid, it creates an antiqued pastel finish.

Diluted White Paint

• An easy whitewash technique involves diluting white paint with water and painting or sponging it onto bare wood or wood that has had old paint partially sanded off. Used as a thin wash on bare wood like oak and maple, this technique shows the grain of the wood. Another way to use white paint for whitewashing is to apply it in a thick, undiluted coat, let dry thoroughly, then rub it with a cotton cloth and denatured alcohol.