This comes from Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellant Instructions for Homekeeping


During the spring and fall cleaning, whitewash the kitchen, all steps, floorboards, walls, fences, et cetera. It is excellent for concealing flaws or stains. But most importantly, it freshens and purifies.
Dissolve 2 pounds of potash in 5 gallons of water, add 2 pounds of alum. When that dissolves, make a paste by stirring into this a little flour at a time until 10 pounds of flour are added. Slake a bushel of lime. When cold, incorporate it with the first preparation. (The lime prevents fermentation.)


First of all, if you were to mix this today, the alum alone would kill your grocery bill. I had to purchase some of that for making pickles and it was unreal.

But can you imagine doing all of this work. Even the fences!!! I wonder if thats why they often had so many kids, to help them with the work.

I also wonder what "slake a bushel of lime" means. Anyone know?

Whew, exhausted thinking about it!!

http://archive.epreservation.net/resources/materials/finishes/whitewash.html

My dictionary says slaked lime is lime that has moisture added to it by leaving it in moist air or adding water to it. Whitewash used to be the cheap way to go. It doesn't last though, not like paint. Paint used to be too expensive. I've asked my dad about that in the past. He remembers whitewashing fences etc.