I painted all my kitchen cupboards, the paint keeps coming off!

Corrie
by Corrie
what can I do?


  9 answers
  • William William on Jan 30, 2018

    First of all did you use a stain blocking primer? Second did you seal after painting? At least three coats of a water based polyurethane to seal.

    • Corrie Corrie on Jan 31, 2018

      No I didn’t just washed them down with vinegar and soap water

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 30, 2018

    how did you prepare first

  • Moo23921847 Moo23921847 on Jan 30, 2018

    you need to remove the paint and lightly sand, clean of all dust then repaint

  • Debi53 Debi53 on Jan 30, 2018

    In this case, you do have to sand off the flaking paint--all of it, not to bare wood, but all that is or might flake off. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove all the dust. I would then use a liquid sandpaper to tack up the surface and follow with 2 coats of high quality stain blocking primer. Make sure that the paint on the cabinets is not oil based. If it is, you will have to use a primer that is made to go over oil based paint. Then use 2 coats of a high quality paint--semi-gloss or eggshell finish. The polyurethane will not make the paint stick. That has to do with proper prep, but it will help make your cabinets more washable.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jan 30, 2018

    Your question was cut off, but I suspect 2 things..... wasn't degreased properly before painting, and if no sanding that could also contribute to paint failing to stick, the last suspect was the cabinet was originally painted with oil-based paint and you used water-based paint like latex.

  • TAMMY SPALSBURY TAMMY SPALSBURY on Jan 30, 2018

    sounds like you are either painting on those cabinets with the slick coating ? Or you need to sand the surface to scuff it up so the paint will stick

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 31, 2018

    they need to be sanded,cleaned primed,painted and protected with a non-yellowing polycrylic

  • William William on Jan 31, 2018

    What you may want to do is touch up where the paint came off. Then put on at least three coats of a water based polyurethane. Use a foam roller or foam brush for a smooth finish. If the paint still comes off you will need to do them over again. No need to strip the paint but just lightly sand off what will come off and feather the edges. Then follow the the process below. Good luck.


    Make sure they are clean and dry. Remove the doors and hardware. Mark the doors and cabinets with tape where they go. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like Zinsser 123, KILZ,or BIN and have it tinted to the color of the top coat. This will prevent dark or stained surfaces from showing through the top coat. Acrylic, or water-base, paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Alkyd, or oil-base, paints require good ventilation because the paint contains solvents that can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick. Alkyd options require mineral spirits for cleanup, but they provide a hard, durable paint finish. Whichever you use, buy the best-quality paint you can afford for a lasting kitchen cabinet finish. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.

  • Kim Kim on Jan 31, 2018

    You didn't use primer.