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Loading...Wallpaper Paste
- Annie B. Bond
- January 5, 1999
- 11:02 pm
- 16 comments
People ask me for this old folk recipe all the time. Everybody claims that there is no commercial wallpaper paste that works as well and is free of pesticides!
- 1 cup flour (wheat, corn, or rice)
- 3 teaspoons alum
- water
- 10 drops oil of cloves (natural preservative)
Combine the flour and alum in a double boiler. (If you don’t have a double boiler, set a smaller pan inside a bigger one that contains enough water that can be brought to a boil without overflowing). Add enough water to make a consistency of heavy cream; stir until blended. Heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened to a gravy texture. Let cool. Stir in the clove oil. Pour into a glass jar with a screw top. Apply with a glue brush.
Makes 1 cup. Shelf life: 2 weeks refrigerated.
Read more: Home, Crafts & Hobbies, Green Home Decor, Household Hints
Annie B. Bond
Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).
Go to the Source
Better Basics for the Home : Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living by Annie Berthold-Bond
Natural living has reached the mainstream: we are now far more concerned about the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the chemicals that surround us, and recognize that government regulations all too often fall short of safeguarding our health. Enter Annie Berthold-Bond, whose Better Basics for the Home is a compendium of practical information -- recipes, tips, and guidelines -- for creating a simpler, cheaper and environmentally safer lifestyle. buy now
Home Safe Home : Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Everyday Toxics and Harmful Household Prod
Provides more than four hundred tips on ways one can remove harmful substances from the home and have them replaced by safer, do-it-yourself formulas, and gives helpful hints on how to purchase natural food, clothing, and beauty supplies.buy now
The Natural Home by Tricia Foley, Jill Kirchner, Michael Skott (Photographer)
Known for her romantic yet simple style, Tricia Foley presents a guide to decorating with natural fibers and materials, neutral colors, and an eye toward the environment. The definitive guide to creating a fresh, uncluttered natural atmosphere in four areas of the home: the bed and bath, the kitchen, the living room, and the outdoors.buy now
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16 comments
+ add your ownThis article was posted in 1999. Has anyone seen the long-term effectiveness of this paste, given that it's now 2012? I would like to use it, but I don't want to ruin $500 worth of wallpaper :)
Alum is a pickling spice that can be found in the spice section of any grocery store. It isn't needed, nor is the clove. I usually just boil water and add my flour/water paste and whisk it in like you would when making gravy. Works wonders!
Thanks Annie!
Thanks Annie!
Alum is also known as "Pickling Spice", I think. It makes your pickles crispy, and is slightly toxic.
Thanks for the article.
thanks
what is alum please?
thanks
Great and easy to make. My problem though is I don't know what alum is nor do I know if I can find it here. Is there anything else I can use instead of alum?
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