Degunk Those Cabinets! Must-Do Steps Before Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Is a kitchen cabinet paint makeover on your to-do list? Transforming tired wood cabinets with a fresh coat of paint can revive the look of your entire kitchen. But to get flawless, long-lasting results, proper prep work is a must before breaking out the paint brushes.

Grease, grime and residue build up on cabinet surfaces over years of use. If you paint over dirty cabinets, all those contaminants will still be lurking underneath the new paint. This can lead to problems like chipping, cracking, peeling and paint failure down the road.

Why Degreasing Cabinets is Crucial Before Painting

Thoroughly degreasing cabinets prior to painting is one of the most vital steps for success. Here’s why this intensive deep cleaning is so important:

Allows Paint to Adhere Properly

When cabinet surfaces are coated in layers of oily grease and residue, paint can't get a proper grip. These contaminants leave a slippery barrier between the bare wood and new paint.

Degreasing removes every last trace of grime down to the raw wood grain. This gives paint direct contact and maximum adhesion for a smooth, lasting finish.

Avoids Drips, Peeling and Chipping Later

Any oils, grease or dirt left on cabinets will eventually bleed through new paint. As time passes, you may notice paint beginning to drip, crack, peel and lose adhesion.

Taking time to properly degrease provides a clean foundation for paint. This prevents peeling and chipping down the road for a kitchen that looks freshly painted for years.

Removes Built-Up Grime and Residue

Kitchen cabinet surfaces collect a amazing amount of dirt, dust, smoke, splatters and everyday grime over their lifetime. Drawers and doors get a build-up of hand oils, grease and residue from daily use.

Degreasing removes all these accumulated layers of gunk completely down to the original bare wood surface. Starting with a blank slate gives new paint the best chance of bonding tightly.

Effective Degreasers for Cleaning Cabinets

Choosing the right degreasing products is key to cutting through years of grease and soil to get cabinets squeaky clean. Here are some top options for degunking kitchen cabinets before painting:

Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

This alkaline phosphate is a workhorse for powerful cleaning. TSP dissolves grease, oils, smoke residues and more from wood, concrete, metal and other surfaces.

It’s available as a powder or liquid concentrate. Mix TSP with water per the label directions. Then apply it to cabinets with a sponge, rag, brush or roller. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing.

Liquid Deglossers

Look for liquid deglossing cleaners formulated specifically for preparation before painting. Many contain TSP plus detergents, solvents and abrasives.

Spray deglosser liberally on cabinet surfaces, let sit briefly, then wipe off with clean cloths. It quickly cuts through grease and removes gloss in one step.

Ammonia-Based Cleaners

Ammonia is beloved by DIYers for its grease-cutting abilities. When mixed with water, it makes a high-powered degreasing solution. Provide proper ventilation when using it indoors.

Be sure to rinse ammonia thoroughly since residue left behind can interfere with paint prep. Wear gloves when using, as it can irritate skin.

Step-by-Step Process for Degreasing Cabinets

Now that you’re equipped with the right degreasers, follow this simple process for removing every trace of grease and residue from cabinet surfaces:

Remove Cabinet Doors and Hardware

Take off all doors, shelves, drawers and hardware. This allows you to access all cabinet frame surfaces.

Submerse removed hardware like knobs and hinges in a degreasing solution to remove accumulated grime and oils.

Wash Cabinets With TSP or Degreaser

Mix up your chosen degreasing solution like TSP, following label directions. Use a sponge, soft brush or clean rag to liberally apply the degreaser to all cabinet surfaces.

Let the degreaser sit for about 5-10 minutes before scrubbing to allow it time to dissolve grease and oils. Target heavily soiled areas with extra scrubbing to remove all residue.

Rinse Completely With Clean Water

Thoroughly rinse degreaser off all cabinet surfaces using clean water. Scrub with a sponge or rag to remove any solution residue.

It’s crucial to remove all remaining degreaser. Leftover residue can interfere with proper paint bonding and cause fish-eyeing in the new paint finish.

Allow Cabinets to Dry Completely

After rinsing, let cabinets air dry fully overnight before moving onto sanding or priming steps. Moisture left behind prevents prep products from working effectively.

Leaving ample drying time minimizes frustrating issues like primer failing to bond or bubbling and blistering under new paint.

Sanding Cabinets After Degreasing

After cabinets are squeaky clean, sanding is the next vital step. Lightly abrading the surfaces helps paint grab on for maximum adhesion.

Why Sanding is Necessary

Sanding serves two important purposes when prepping cabinets to be painted:

• It deglosses and roughens up the surface so new paint can grip tightly.
• Sanding removes glossy coatings to get down to the bare wood.

This gives primer and paint the ability to properly bond with the raw wood grain for enhanced adhesion.

Use Fine 120-150 Grit Sandpaper

For light sanding of cabinet surfaces, reach for fine 120-150 grit sandpaper. This is abrasive enough to degloss and rough up the finish but won’t deeply scratch or damage the wood.

Using a coarser grit runs the risk of overly scuffing up the wood. Finer grit doesn’t abrade enough to effectively prep the surface.

Sand in Direction of Wood Grain

As you sand, maintain the sandpaper direction going along with the wood grain. Moving in the same direction minimizes scratch marks.

Scratches made against the grain are more noticeable and can show through new paint. Lightly sand until the surface feels uniformly dull and roughened.

Remove All Dust Before Priming

Eliminate all dust after sanding using a tack cloth. Any lingering dust particles can create flaws under new primer and paint.

A tack cloth picks up residual dust easily without leaving behind lint like a rag can. Vacuuming also helps remove sanded debris from crevices.

Priming Deglossed Cabinets

After all that diligent grease removal and sanding, take the final prep step of priming cabinets before painting them with color. Using the right primer is key for ideal paint adhesion.

Use Oil or Shellac-Based Primer

On freshly deglossed and sanded cabinet wood, apply an oil-based or shellac-based primer formulated especially for kitchen cabinets.

These primers contain binders that grab onto slick surfaces and seal in stains far better than water-based acrylic options. They provide a strong foundation that paint can stick to.

Apply With Brush or Roller

Use an angled sash brush to get primer into corners, crevices and details. Then roll a smooth coat over large flat surfaces using a short nap roller.

Combining brush and roller application gives a seamless, professional-looking finish. Add thin, even coats and avoid drips or brush marks.

It’s crucial to let primer fully dry and cure between coats as recommended on the label. Rushing the process leads to drips, runs and uneven final results.

Lightly sanding between coats of primer increases adhesion. This prepares surfaces for a smooth topcoat of cabinet paint in your choice of color.

Now you’re ready to get rolling with gorgeous painted cabinets! Follow these essential steps to degunk and prep your cabinets the right way before painting. Just a little elbow grease removes years of grime so your kitchen can shine.