I absolutely love this product. I have personally mixed with activated charcoal and made a tooth cleansing powder. I have also heard that you can mix it with paint to make chalk paint, which is a plus! The bag is not resealable, so make sure you have a ziplock bag or container to move it into. I am very happy with this product and recommend it!
If you are looking to make Chalk paint I would totally recommend this as I looked up reviews for homemade chalk paint and calcium carbonate won the gold medal, you can read the blog post below:
BEST HOMEMADE CHALK PAINT RECIPES
February 25, 2013 by Denise 1,942 Comments
After spending $45 and a half day drive on a quart of brand name chalk paint, I was determined to find the BEST Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes for a cost efficient alternative.
If you’re interested in mixing your own chalk paint to save yourself time and money, read on because I discovered a bunch of interesting stuff I wasn’t made aware of on other blogs.
I tried four (4) of the most popular Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes and the results surprised me and left me with a hands-down fave! In sharing my experience, I hope it helps you decide which DIY recipe is right for you.
So let’s start my countdown…. 😉
Best-HMCP-Countdown-#4BAKING SODA RECIPE
2/3 CUP PAINT
1/3 CUP BAKING SODA
MIX REALLY WELL
My least favourite is the baking soda recipe.
When applying this Homemade Chalk Paint, (HMCP) it had a very gritty texture despite a thorough mixing. I could actually see the tiny granulars in the paint as I was applying each coat.
BEST-Homemade-Chalk-Paint-Recipes-BakingSoda1
I was worried it wouldn’t sand down properly, but it turned out just fine…. whew! Here’s what it looks like after the final sanding/distressing.
BEST-Homemade-Chalk-Paint-Recipes-BakingSoda2
Although Baking Soda Chalk Paint is listed last on my countdown, it’s perfect if you’re trying to achieve an old weathered, distressed “country” looking piece of furniture.
Deana at Alchemy Fine Living has a great video showcasing a dresser painted with the Baking Soda Chalk Paint Recipe.
Baking Soda Chalk Paint Cost – $1.69 for a box of baking soda which can be used for another 5 single chalk paint recipes + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – No time was spent on the purchase because I always have baking soda in my kitchen. 2-3 minutes to mix it thoroughly into the paint.
Application – Grainy look and feel even when mixed thoroughly.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or sanding required and great coverage. Good coverage after 2 coats but I applied 3.
Odour – No odour other than the latex paint it’s mixed with.
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex. Not as easy as 100% green brand name chalk paint.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as brand name chalk paint (ie distressing with dampened cloth).
Finish – The finished look is chalky but not quite as smooth as brand name chalk paint.
Best-HMCP-Countdown-#3NON-SANDED GROUT RECIPE
1 CUP PAINT
2 TBSP UNSANDED GROUT
WATER TO MIX GROUT
Number 3 on my list is the Unsanded Grout Recipe.
I mixed the grout with the water, then once smooth, added it to the paint. It looked and applied like a brand name chalk paint. It dried fast (within 1/2 hour), and the finish was just as “chalky” as the store bought.
It had a bit of a weird odour…ok…really weird. But because it was applying so beautifully, I wasn’t bothered by it too much.
Fabulous! … so why is it listed No.3 on my list?
This DIY Homemade Grout version started to thicken up while I was applying my first coat…. it turned more like thick icing than paint.
Best-Homemade-Chalk-Paint-Recipes-grout
I had to keep mixing it while I was painting and eventually had to add more water because it was too thick. The next day it had really congealed and more water was needed. Take a look… it just kept turning into a thick mess!
Best-Homemade-Chalk-Paint-Recipes-grout
Here is the before and after. The table on the left is painted with Baking Soda HMCP and the table on the right is painted with Unsanded Grout HMCP. Can you see a difference?
BestHMCPb&a1
BestHMCPgroutsidetable
Unsanded Grout Chalk Paint Cost – $17.99 for a large 10lb bag which will last a zillion single recipes + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Easy to find Non-Sanded Grout on-line or at any Lowe’s, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire or any on-line home reno store. Note – Grout comes in different colours. You want to buy white unsanded grout. Why? If you add a coloured grout to your paint, it may alter your paint’s hue. 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the water and paint.
Application – Fabulous… until it started thickening up. Then time was spent mixing it and adding additional water to obtain the right consistency.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required and it had full coverage after 3 coats. The more water I added, the thinner the coverage.
Odour – It had a weird smell. I’d love to explain it to you but I don’t know what to compare it to?
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint cleans up much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and lovely.
Best-HMCP-Countdown-#2PLASTER OF PARIS RECIPE
3 PARTS PAINT
1 PART PLASTER OF PARIS
WATER TO MIX
My number 2 pick is the Plaster of Paris recipe.
I made a smooth paste with the plaster of paris and water before mixing it into the paint. When mixed well, it was silky smooth and applied just as nicely as brand name chalk paint. Best-HMCP-PlasterofParis+paint2
The second day it did thicken a little and appeared a little grainy, but after a thorough mixing it was fine.
The left over paint was stored in a glass pickle jar and used again 2 weeks later.
Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint Cost – $6.oo for a large box which will last for a looong time + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Easy to find Plaster of Paris on-line or at any Lowes, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire or craft store. 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the water and paint.
Application – Fabulous! The consistency was great and it applied like brand name chalk paint.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required. Applied 3 coats for compete coverage.
Odour – None other than the latex paint used.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint clean up is much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and lovely.
I used the Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint Recipe to re-purpose an old sewing table into a little girl’s desk. What do you think?
Best-HMCP-PlasterofParisDesk1psd
Best-HMCP-Countdown-#1CALCIUM CARBONATE
2 PARTS PAINT
1 PART CALCIUM CARBONATE
My hands down #1 choice was the Calcium Carbonate Recipe…which makes good sense since Calcium Carbonate is chalk!
It mixed into the paint easily, had the perfect consistency, coverage was fantastic, dried within 30 minutes, AND left me with a perfect chalky finish. I stored the left over paint in a yogurt container and it kept the same consistency for days. (I did stir it vigorously each time before use.)
The only downfall to my #1 choice was I had a difficult time finding it! Not many stores sell it in powder form and the pill form won’t work even if you grind them up.
My local pharmacy ordered it in for me and I picked it up 4 days later. Since then, I’ve found a good grade Calcium Carbonate On-line and will be ordering from the comfort of my home. 🙂
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Best Naturals Calcium Carbonate 1 Lb
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"BUYER BEWARE" - Not LD Carlson original packaging!
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2020
When I received my "LD Carlson Calcium Carbonate" order, shipped and sold by Amazon, I was surprised to see what actually arrived. In the attached pictures you can see that it came in a hand re-packaged, hand shrink-wrapped plastic bag, with a second baggie to keep it from leaking, with a printer sticky-label indicating that it came from a company called "labelpeelers.com" and offering a 10% discount on the next order from them. My first thought was obviously "who is labelpeelers.com and what is actually in the bag?". I don't know the company labelpeelers.com and I specifically buy consumable products that are brand-name to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy. Since I am aware Amazon is trying to crack down on fraudulent products, I called customer service to report it and hopefully get a legitimate LD Carlson product. They were more than helpful and sent another one the very next day (thanks Amazon!), however the same exact packaging arrived the next day as well. Called them back and got a refund right away without hassle (thanks again Amazon!). They asked me to send it back and their shipping department would investigate. Meanwhile, I contacted labelmakers.com out of sheer curiosity to see what was going on. The manager I spoke to was unaware they were sending repackaged products to Amazon in lieu of legitimate LD Carlson packaged products since he worked in their retail store. He offered to send me a legitimate original-packaged bag from his store and I agreed, but have yet to receive it a few days later. Since I had sent him pictures by email, he had my email address. The next day I received an unsolicited email from a different labelpeelers.com representative, who said he was a part-owner of labelmakers.com, telling me that when they run out of LD Carlson original products, they hand-package from 50lb bags. Now more curious than before, I explained that most customers probably care that they receive what they are buying in original branded packaging to assure quality, safety, and efficacy. He took the time to write me once again to say he was "sorry that I feel that way" and that he's been doing it for 18 years, most companies do it, people just trust him, and not once has any other customer complained. Well, call me crazy for wasting my time writing him and this review, all over a 1lb bag of Calcium Carbonate, but I didn't like his response and thought other customers should know that they should order from somewhere else if they expect and want legitimate LD Carlson original packaging as advertised.
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2020
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 16, 2020
Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
"BUYER BEWARE" - Not LD Carlson original packaging!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 16, 2020
When I received my "LD Carlson Calcium Carbonate" order, shipped and sold by Amazon, I was surprised to see what actually arrived. In the attached pictures you can see that it came in a hand re-packaged, hand shrink-wrapped plastic bag, with a second baggie to keep it from leaking, with a printer sticky-label indicating that it came from a company called "labelpeelers.com" and offering a 10% discount on the next order from them. My first thought was obviously "who is labelpeelers.com and what is actually in the bag?". I don't know the company labelpeelers.com and I specifically buy consumable products that are brand-name to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy. Since I am aware Amazon is trying to crack down on fraudulent products, I called customer service to report it and hopefully get a legitimate LD Carlson product. They were more than helpful and sent another one the very next day (thanks Amazon!), however the same exact packaging arrived the next day as well. Called them back and got a refund right away without hassle (thanks again Amazon!). They asked me to send it back and their shipping department would investigate. Meanwhile, I contacted labelmakers.com out of sheer curiosity to see what was going on. The manager I spoke to was unaware they were sending repackaged products to Amazon in lieu of legitimate LD Carlson packaged products since he worked in their retail store. He offered to send me a legitimate original-packaged bag from his store and I agreed, but have yet to receive it a few days later. Since I had sent him pictures by email, he had my email address. The next day I received an unsolicited email from a different labelpeelers.com representative, who said he was a part-owner of labelmakers.com, telling me that when they run out of LD Carlson original products, they hand-package from 50lb bags. Now more curious than before, I explained that most customers probably care that they receive what they are buying in original branded packaging to assure quality, safety, and efficacy. He took the time to write me once again to say he was "sorry that I feel that way" and that he's been doing it for 18 years, most companies do it, people just trust him, and not once has any other customer complained. Well, call me crazy for wasting my time writing him and this review, all over a 1lb bag of Calcium Carbonate, but I didn't like his response and thought other customers should know that they should order from somewhere else if they expect and want legitimate LD Carlson original packaging as advertised.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 16, 2020
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