Surprising Tips on How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Old or worn down kitchen cabinets can make the whole room feel outdated. Replacing them is a big financial undertaking. You can get new life in your cabinets and save your wallet by painting them. It won’t be easy, so here are the experts with surprising tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets.

Protect Countertops With Rosin Paper

Use Rosin paper or brown builder’s paper to protect counters, backsplashes and appliances. Even our professionals drip paint occasionally. It’s easier to protect before painting than clean up after.

Remove Doors, Drawer Fronts and Hardware

Removing the doors, fronts and hardware can seem daunting, but taping them off or painting around them is even more so. Most modern cabinets have a few screws that hold the doors on, and the hardware to the doors. It’s a small task that’s worth it in the long run.

Label Doors

The worst thing you can do is try to jigsaw puzzle your cabinets back together after they are painted. Use sticky notes or markers and label the doors. If you write under the hinge locations, you don’t paint over the number and it will be hidden when you put the doors back up.

Clean Grease

Paint cannot stick to grease. It’s just a reality. You must clean the grease off with a cutting solution. Try a remover like TSP or dishwashing soap. Scrub and rinse the cabinets thoroughly and allow them to dry.

Don’t Over Sand

Sanding will give your cabinets a good tooth for the new paint to adhere to. This doesn’t mean you need to completely remove any paint on the cabinets. Use a 120-grit sandpaper or sanding sponge and rough up the surface.

Remove Dust

For good adhesion and a smooth finish, you must remove all of the dust created from sanding. Use a vacuum to remove the majority of it, and follow that with a tack cloth to ensure all dust is gone. Make sure you shake out the tack cloth frequently to allow it to grab more dust.

Use a Fast-Drying Primer

Fast drying primers are one way to speed up the process of your project. Follow the directions from the manufacturer to get a good outcome. Make sure the primer is compatible with the paint you have chosen.

Try Mini Rollers

Most homeowners will find they get the best outcome when painting the cabinets with a mini roller. Most pros recommend a mohair, microfiber or foam sleeve option. The foam sleeves will provide the smoothest finish, but won’t hold as much paint. You’ll likely need a brush too for touch ups and corners.