Hey fellow eco-warriors! 
I’ve recently embarked on a journey to repaint my living room using Old Fashioned Milk Paint, a brand I’ve grown to love for its natural ingredients and minimal environmental impact. However, living in a coastal area means I’m constantly battling with high humidity levels. This got me wondering: how does humidity actually affect the drying time of milk paint?
I’ve experimented with a few eco-friendly paints before, including Earthborn Claypaint and Auro Natural Paints, both of which have their own quirks when it comes to application and drying times. But milk paint seems to be in a league of its own. On a particularly humid day, I noticed the paint took significantly longer to dry, which threw off my entire painting schedule. I’m curious if anyone else has faced similar challenges and how you’ve managed to work around them.
Also, if you’ve used milk paint on different surfaces (I’ve tried it on wood and plaster), did you notice any variation in drying times? And for those in drier climates, does milk paint dry too quickly, making it hard to work with? Let’s share our experiences and tips to help each other out. Looking forward to your insights! 
Hey @EcoPainterJane, great topic! I’ve been using Old Fashioned Milk Paint for a few years now, mostly on wooden furniture. Humidity definitely plays a big role in drying times. From my experience, high humidity can double the drying time, especially if there’s poor ventilation. I usually try to paint during the drier months or use a dehumidifier in the room to speed things up. Have you considered using a fan to improve air circulation?
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Living by the coast as well, I feel your pain! I’ve noticed that Old Fashioned Milk Paint behaves differently on various surfaces. On wood, it seems to dry a bit faster than on plaster, probably because wood absorbs moisture better. Have you tried applying thinner coats? That might help with the drying time in humid conditions.
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@GreenThumbGary Thanks for the tip! I haven’t tried using a fan yet, but that sounds like a great idea. I’ll give it a go next time. Do you find that the finish is affected at all by the fan? I’m a bit worried about dust or uneven drying.
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Interesting discussion! I’m in a dry climate, and Old Fashioned Milk Paint dries super fast here, sometimes too fast for comfort. I’ve learned to work in smaller sections and keep a spray bottle of water handy to rewet the paint if needed. It’s a bit of a balancing act, but it works for me. Anyone else in arid areas have tips?
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@CoastalCrafter Thinner coats are a good suggestion. I’ll try that approach next time. Do you have any advice on how to ensure even coverage with thinner coats? I’m concerned about patchiness.
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I’ve experimented with Old Fashioned Milk Paint on both wood and metal surfaces. The drying time on metal was noticeably longer, likely due to the non-porous nature of the surface. For those considering milk paint for metal, patience is key, and maybe a dehumidifier as @GreenThumbGary suggested.
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@DesertDweller I’m in a similar boat. Besides the spray bottle trick, I’ve found that mixing the paint in smaller batches helps prevent it from drying out too quickly in the container. Also, working early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cooler can make a big difference.
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I’ve been using milk paint for a while now, and humidity is definitely a game-changer. I found that using a dehumidifier in the room helps a lot. It’s not just about thinner coats; controlling the room’s environment can make a huge difference. Also, have you tried mixing in a bit of chalk powder? It can help with the drying time.
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Interesting point about the dehumidifier. I live in a pretty dry area, and I’ve had the opposite problem where the paint dries too fast. I’ve started using a spray bottle to lightly mist the surface before applying the paint. It gives me a bit more working time. Maybe in humid conditions, you could try the opposite and use a fan to circulate air?
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I’ve noticed that the type of surface prep can also affect drying times. On surfaces that I’ve sanded down really well, the paint seems to dry faster, even in high humidity. Maybe it’s because the paint adheres better and doesn’t sit on top as much. Have you experimented with different surface preparations?
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That’s a good observation about surface prep. I’ve also found that the color of the milk paint can influence drying time. Darker colors seem to take longer to dry, possibly because they absorb more heat. In humid conditions, I try to stick to lighter colors or plan for extra drying time when using darker shades.
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I hadn’t considered the color aspect before. That’s really useful to know. Another thing I’ve tried is applying a thin layer of natural oil over the dried paint to seal it. It seems to help protect against the humidity and can give the paint a nice finish. Just make sure the paint is completely dry before applying the oil.
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All these tips are great! I think the key is to experiment and find what works best for your specific conditions. I’ve started keeping a journal of my painting projects, noting the weather, humidity, and what techniques I used. It’s been really helpful for planning future projects and understanding how different factors affect the outcome.
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I’ve been using milk paint for a while now, and humidity definitely plays a big role in drying times. In my experience, high humidity can almost double the drying time, which can be frustrating when you’re trying to stick to a schedule. One trick I’ve found helpful is using a dehumidifier in the room I’m painting. It doesn’t completely solve the problem, but it does help speed things up a bit. Also, working in smaller sections, like you mentioned, can make a big difference. It’s all about adapting to the conditions.
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Living in a dry climate, I’ve had the opposite problem with milk paint drying too quickly. It’s a race against time to get the paint on and blended before it sets. I’ve started mixing smaller batches of paint and using a damp sponge to keep the edges wet longer. It’s not perfect, but it helps. I’m curious, has anyone tried adding a retarder to slow down the drying time? I’ve heard it can help, but I’m not sure how it affects the paint’s finish.
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I’ve been using Old Fashioned Milk Paint for a while now, mostly on wood, and yeah, humidity is a big factor. I noticed that on days when the humidity is above 60%, the paint just doesn’t want to dry. I started using a dehumidifier in the room I’m painting, and it’s made a huge difference. Not just for the paint drying time, but it also helps with the overall finish. Less chance of the paint getting tacky or streaky.
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That’s interesting about the metal surfaces. I’ve only used milk paint on wood and plaster, but I can see how metal would be a different beast. I wonder if prepping the metal surface with a primer designed for high humidity areas would help. Also, has anyone tried using fans to circulate air and speed up drying? I’ve done that with other paints, but not sure how milk paint would react.
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