How to Make Borax Milk Paint

How to Make Borax Milk Paint
Written By
Willow Sidhe
Willow Sidhe
Published: Apr 30, 2009
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

This is roughly enough to cover an area of 30 square feet with between two and three coats of paint.

  1. Combine a half quart of skim milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in a small saucepan. Place it on the stove and warm it on low heat for five minutes. Never allow the milk to boil. This will cause it to curdle and render it useless.

  2. Remove from heat and drain away the yellow-colored whey on top of the milk. Be careful not to lose any milk. Place a universal coffee filter on a glass jar and pour the remainder of milk into it. Allow it to strain overnight. Check the jar in the morning for 3 ounces of curd.

  3. Add 1 teaspoon of borax to 1 tablespoon of water. Combine the borax water with the curd and mix well. This should create a creamy, smooth consistency. If still thick, add 1 teaspoon of water. The borax works as an antibacterial, killing any microbes, and also makes the curd more water soluble, allowing it to become the proper texture.

  4. Combine 5 1/2 ounces of chalk powder with 1 cup of water and mix. Add this to the curd mixture and mix once again. The white borax milk paint is now ready to be used.

  5. Add color to the borax milk paint by mixing small amounts of artist oil paints into the mixture. The color can be adjusted by adding the proper amounts. Start by adding a very small amount and mixing, and then adding more from there to achieve the desired color and hue.

Things You Will Need

  • Skim milk
  • White vinegar
  • Saucepan
  • Universal coffee filter
  • Borax
  • Chalk powder
  • Oil paint

Photo Credits

Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia Commons

Willow Sidhe

Willow Sidhe is a freelance writer living in the beautiful Hot Springs, AR. She is a certified aromatherapist with a background in herbalism. She has extensive experience gardening, with a specialty in indoor plants and herbs. Sidhe's work…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.