If you’ve ever erased a chalk design only to find a faint outline still lingering behind, you know how frustrating it is to deal with ghosting on your chalkboard. That’s why seasoning your chalkboard is such an important process to protect a new or newly painted chalkboard surface., especially if you’re planning to reuse it for multiple signs or events.
Here’s my quick, go-to process for seasoning a brand new chalkboard, whether it’s a painted wall panel or a sandwich board sign:
Step 1: Grab a Stick of Traditional White Chalk
While any chalk will work to season a chalkboard, I always try to use traditional white chalk. If possible, use a good quality and avoid generic brands or sidewalk chalk that might leave scratches in your chalkboard. This ensures even coverage of your surface and helps fill in the board’s porous surface.
Step 2: Rub the Chalk Vertically
Turn your chalk sideways to cover more area at once and rub it across the entire surface vertically. Go edge to edge!
Step 3: Rub the Chalk Horizontally
Repeat the process, this time going across the surface horizontally. You’re building up a light, even layer of chalk that fills all the tiny surface pores and completely covers your entire chalkboard surface.
Step 4: Erase with a Felt Eraser or Microfiber Cloth
Using a clean felt eraser or microfiber cloth, gently erase the entire surface. You’ll notice a soft, hazy patina which is exactly what you want. You can repeat the cleaning process as needed to remove more chalk dust. Typically, I do this two or three times especially if the sign has a more plasticized surface.
Step 5: Test your Surface and Materials
Now that your chalkboard is seasoned, you should be able to write and erase without ghosting. However, depending on the purpose and quality of your materials, chalk markers may not be the best option. If your surface is hand painted or especially old or porous, you might want to avoid all chalk and paint markers. Test your surface in a small corner to make sure your materials and surface are a good match.
Why Seasoning Matters for Lettering Work
This process isn’t just for looks (though that used chalkboard vibe is amazing). Seasoning will help prevent ghosting and keep your hand-lettered signage crisp and clean, even after erasing and rewriting.
Want to see the full process in action? Watch the video below as I season a brand new sandwich board chalk sign for an upcoming lettering project.
