How do I prepare and paint kitchen cabinets?

Carla, a professional paint requires good prep. Sand any uneven areas and remove excess glossiness. Wash with TSP to remove any residue. I use Kilz as a primer. Professional finishes have very little texture, so using an hvlp sprayer or at least a very fine nap roller will yield a smoother finish. You will need at least two coats of paint on top of the primer. I did a lot of research before painting my cabinets and found that latex enamel gloss paint specifically has more hardiners than other finishes. Using this paint, I've never needed any top coat. Just 2 or possibly 3 coats of latex enamel gloss paint over primer holds up to much abuse.

How to Paint Cabinets

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 220-grit sandpaper. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like KILZ. 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.

I had great success using Benjamin Moore's advance paint . This is a hybrid paint that washes off your hands and brushes with soap and water , but dries to a hard finish , like an enamel . It is also a self leveling paint , so you don't get brush or roller marks . 2 giant pluses 1- no sanding & 2- no primer !!! There is some prep work to do. I used 2 products from Krud Kutter , first a de greaser to clean and get off excess grease , oils and ok!dishes . Then the same brand de glosser , this takes off the shine on the cabinets . Both of these are spray on , then wipe off . Then I applied 2 coats of paint ! I did this 2 years ago and they are holding up great ! Easy to clean . You can check out my tutorial on this site " new kitchen on a budget " you can see step by step and tips ! Good luck !

for the kitchen cabinet note that you shouldn't sand too much (of course depending on the type of wood it's made of)