Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Whether you have children touching your cabinet doors with sticky fingers, or just the natural wear and tear of using a home kitchen there are many times when painting your kitchen cabinets becomes a necessity. Cabinets which are installed over a stove are subject to steam from boiling vegetables, frying pans, and boiling pasta, while those above sinks are subject to scalding water from dishes. Spattered grease from cooking travels further than you realize and when you are in the rush of cooking a meal you often open and close drawers and cabinet doors without realizing the food particular you are transferring. Eventually, this natural wear and tear leaves your kitchen cabinets looking dull and greasy.

A fast and simple way in which you can bring back some of the original shine and luster your cabinets had is to paint them. Whether they are already painted or just stained and you want to enjoy a new color, you can redecorate and revive your kitchen for hardly any cost by painting kitchen cabinets. The cost for replacing cabinets can be quite high but painting them fits well within almost anyone’s budget. Paint and a few hours of hard labor will save you thousands.

Even if your existing cabinets are covered with vanish or stain you can still paint them and add a completely new look. If your cabinets were originally painted you can paint them over with the same color or select a new one. You might even select different colors for your doors and your drawers.

No matter what you choose, the first step in painting kitchen cabinets is to remove the doors, hardware, and drawers. Everything should be thoroughly cleaned before you begin painting. The handles and knobs should be left to soak in water and vinegar, then scrubbed with a small brush and left to dry. The cabinets should be cleaned with an initial mixture of liquid dish washing soap and warm water. You can use a soft plastic pad or a sponge to scrub away any grease or food particles on the cabinets. If any sticky residue remains you can use the same mixture of warm water and vinegar used for the handles and lightly scrubbing away the grime.

Once you are done cleaning, the cabinets should feel smooth with nothing left. Allow them to thoroughly dry. If you have varnish or other stain finish on your cabinets you should then begin by sanding them down. You can also fill scratches and cracks this way. This process should be done carefully following the grain of the wood with gloves and a mask. Clean up any of the dust from sanding and then evenly apply a primer to the wood. After this has been left to dry for at least twenty four hours you can return with the paint you desire and evenly paint the cabinets, also in conjunction with the grain of the wood. Allow this to dry and enjoy the finished product, knowing you saved hundreds!