How well do you know your whitewash lore?

Posted by Matt Morris on July 25th, 2019

For most of us, the earliest thing we can remember about whitewash is that timeless scene out of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, where Tom convinces friends to take over the task of whitewashing a fence.

This is a lovely framework in which to remember whitewash fondly. It's a sign post in history that will remain with us for as long as the written word endures.

That said, the history of whitewash stretches much further back in history. It has long been in use as a beautifying method as well as a disinfectant agent. Whitewash even helps fight off mildew.

So, whether you are seeking to whitewash a fence (or have some friends do it for you), looking to disinfect and beautify that big stone colliseum you use to let the prisoners fight in, or just looking for the perfect solution for white wood flooring, it's worth taking a minute to glance back down collective memory lane.

First off, though, what is whitewash? It's taken a few different shapes throughout the ages (literally, ages). The older recipes are lost in the annals of time, but whitewash generally consists of a calcium derivative formula. This can sometimes come from milk, but more often comes from lime (the chemical compound, not the fruit).

Calcium hydroxide or chalk calcium carbonate are typically the responsible parties where whitewashing is concerned.

For it's uses throughout history, you might have guessed at a few I'm going to be walking through. Most notable are the tomb of King Tut and the Roman Coliseum and structures from our ancient past.

Whitewashing was seen as particularly useful in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Paint was less sophisticated during these times, and muhc less accessible to just anyone. Whitewash was cheap, could be manufactued as a low cost, and could even be made at home.

More appealing than even the cost was the effect. Whitewash contains tiny crystals made of calcite. These crystals double-refract light (like a prism), allowing a full spectrum of colors to be refined down to only one--white. This brilliant effect causes a glow that is unique to the whitewashing process.

It's no surprise when you consider the wealth of historical and fictional reference to whitewash that it holds a significant and singular place in modern American interior design and decor.

The very best way to take full advantage of all this lore is to find the places where whitewash can add value in our present-day society. Paint has become so versatile and multi-fuctional that it's hard not to go for the exact latex or acrylic for the job. It's hard to find a job for whitewash given how much more complicated you can make a solution using modern paint.

The truth, though, is that there will always be places where whitewash can add a modern rustic feel to your interior and even your exterior projects. You can whitewash a wooden fence or lawn swing, fence around your flower gardens with junk wood cut into sizeable chunks, or redo your inside flooring with hardwood like white oak, which takes incredibly well to whitewash.

If nothing else, consider what rock projects you have in the yard that could use some beautifying. Whitewashing stone leaves it sparkling and clean. This will literally transpose the dull rock you thought you used into a shimmering and lustrous vignette.