What Is Milk Paint Used for?

Milk paint is a durable, non-toxic paint that is made primarily from milk protein. Milk paint has been around for centuries and was the only option for some people before paint became commercially prepared. It comes in a powder form and must be mixed before using. Milk paint is still used today as a more organic designing approach.

History

Milk paint can be traced back to cave drawings of over 20,000 years ago. Items found in King Tutankhamun's tomb were painted with milk paint.

Indoors

Milk paint is the safest type of paint for interiors. Homes are safe to inhabit even minutes after applying milk paint because it leaves no fumes.

Outdoors

Being very resilient to water, milk paint is able to withstand certain weather conditions. It is safe for outdoor walls and furniture.

Wood Surfaces

Milk paint sticks best to unsealed wood surfaces. Some types of woods can be oily, which doesn't mix well with the water-based milk paint.

Artwork

Even if there is some threat of cracking, some artists use milk paint in their work. The amount of paint applied must be very thin or it will become brittle on canvas, due to the natural oils of the canvas.