How to paint old kitchen cabinets?

Penny Pettrey
by Penny Pettrey

How do I refinish old kitchen cabinets? What kind of paint is best?

  4 answers
  • Barb Reimer Barb Reimer on Aug 30, 2018

    I would wash them down first to get off old dirt and grime. Time to sand and wipe down really good. Next get a good primer for the cabinets and then use a melamine paint for cabinets. I would put on two coats, sanding lightly in between. Voila! P.S. Add a paint medium to the paint for smoother painting and less brush and roller marks!

  • Lucy Marie Bernier Lucy Marie Bernier on Aug 30, 2018

    Have to be super clean for one. A primer and paint will work the best. Also depends what kind of cabinets they are.

  • Heje Heje on Aug 30, 2018

    The best way to paint old kitchen cabinets is to clean them well first with Krudkutter or another degreaser/deglosser, sand them, prime and paint. The doors can be left on or taken off. I personally paint the insides to in a white or light color. It gives the cupboards a clean fresh feeling and easier to see the contents. The primer was Kilz and the paint was semi-gloss bright white from Sherwin Williams.

  • William William on Aug 30, 2018

    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.