Whitewashing Colors & Whitewash Brushes

It may be colored with any pigments which are not attacked by lime; a yellow or cream color is obtained by adding yellow ocher; it will mix with any of the iron oxides, as Venetian red or Indian red, also with umber and sienna; and tints may be obtained with mixtures of these, with or without lampblack, as described in speaking of oil paints. Bright yellow and green cannot be made, but various dull colors are available. However, whitewash is generally white; and although the directions of the U.S. Lighthouse Board say to apply it hot, that is intended to apply only to the rather complex mixture which they recommend; common whitewash is used cold. It is not unusual to put a little carbolic acid in it for use in cellars, stables, and the like.

Whitewash brushes should be washed out immediately after using, as the caustic lime is not good for them. To determine how thick whitewash should be, it is customary to brush out a little of it on a piece of well-sized paper, which can be dried quickly; this will show if it covers sufficiently; if it is too thick the coating will look coarse and sandy.

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