Whitewash is prepared by mixing freshly burnt shells or pure stone lime with water. Slaked lime is preferred over pure lime because it is whiter and glides better to a smooth paste.
To prepare whitewash, fresh lime is poured onto the work area and dissolved in a tub with plenty of water. After silking, it is allowed to stand in a tub of water for 2 days and then stirred with a pole until it attains the consistency of thin cream. The mixture is then filtered through a clean coarse cloth. The clear glue dissolved in hot water is then mixed with whitewash water at a rate of 2 kg/m3 of lime. The solution thus formed is called white wash. To prevent the clear effect due to whitewash, sometimes a thin cream of copper sulfate at the rate of 4 kg/m3 is added. For better adhesive properties, alum or common salt can be added in equal proportions to the gum.
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