Calcium Hydroxide - Botanical Colors

By A Mystery Man Writer

Last updated 17 Jun 2024

Calcium hydroxide is used in Michel Garcia's 1-2-3 vat recipe, which we describe in our blog. It is a mild alkali and easier to use than lye.
Calcium hydroxide is used to make an indigo or woad vat more alkaline. It is a fine white powder and is also known as pickling lime, hydrated lime or, in Mexican markets, cal. Calcium hydroxide is used in indigo vats, which we go into detail about here. It is a mild alkali and easier to use than lye or caustic soda. We provide a food grade quality calcium hydroxide. Please wear a mask when using it as it is very fine and can be an irritating dust. Calcium hydroxide can also be used when creating an indigo stock solution (also called a starter or mother). Indigo is dependent on a balanced blend of indigo powder, a base or alkali such as calcium hydroxide, and a reducing agent, such as fructose or henna. To make a stock solution, you can mix these ingredients in a smaller container and let them react. Once the reaction is ready, then carefully add this stock solution to a container of water to create the vat. Learn more about indigo: How to Dye with Indigo Frequently Asked Indigo Questions