Milk paint (casein)

Milk paint, or casein paint, is a mixture of quark, water, pigment and baking soda or lime. Milk paint contains only natural ingredients and is 100% biodegradable, odorless, safe and contains no solvents, preservatives or other additives.

Milk Paint is ideal for decorative paint effects such as old or washed looks on furniture. The coating is not entirely waterproof, so for surfaces that are used extensively or outdoors it is sensible to seal the paint. This can be done with a varnish, oil or wax. Milk paint is easy to make at home, there are various recipes to be found online.

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The life cycle	Pro	Con
			Tips Milk paint is the type of natural paint with the largest footprint, because casein is a product of the environmentally-heavy dairy industry. Nonetheless it is much better than oil based finishes.
	Lightweight When milk paint is sold as a powder it saves a lot of energy in transport since it is much lighter than paints that are pre-mixed with water or oil.
	Non toxic Milk paint contains no solvents or VOC's. However, some of the recipes contain chemicals (lime) that can be hazardous and irritant to the skin. Be careful with DIY chemistry. Low cost Home made milk paint is low cost. However the ready made powder or paint is more expensive.	Time consuming Making milk paint at home is more time consuming then buying a ready mixed paint. It is "labor intensive and (...) takes 2 days to dry" (greenopedia). Show Alternatives » Alternatives finishing Quick Acrylic paint Chalk paint Tung oil Water based laquer Water based paint Difficult reuse Milk paint has a short shelf life when it is mixed with water(1). Powder milk paint can be kept for longer when stored dry. Show Alternatives » Alternatives finishing that make it easier to reuse Beeswax Furniture wax Spray paint

	Non toxic There is no offgassing of any toxic gasses that could be harmful for the user.	Short lifespan Milk paint can form a resistant layer of colour to wood, but it depends strongly on the type of wood. The paint sticks better to porous wood that hasn't been treated previously. It is not waterproof, so surfaces that are subject to moisture need an additional sealant. Heavy moisture can lead to mold growth, so it is unsuitable for the kitchen or bathroom(1). Show Alternatives » Alternatives finishing Long lifespan 2 parts PU lacquer Chalk paint Clay and loam paint CNC engraving Epoxy filler Flour paint Laser engraving Oil based laquer Oil based paint Polyurethane varnish Screen printing Tung oil

	Easy recycling Non hazardous waste. Easy reuse Milk paint is easy to sand and re-paint.