Proper Cleaning Tips for Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting

Keep kitchen cabinets clean by removing grease, dust, and stains with easy tips.

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Cleaning Tips for Kitchen Cabinets

A little paint can change your kitchen look and breathe new life into the heart of your home. We paint our kitchens or change their organization to give them a new look or to change the environment. Cabinets are the core element of a kitchen, and if you are reading this article, you are looking for the steps to clean your cabinets for painting. You are about to paint, and it’s essential to clean your cabinets step by step in this article. We will guide you to the best steps on How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets for Painting. By cleaning off dirt and grease and getting surfaces ready for paint, each step ensures your kitchen can get the best makeover.  

Overview 🔰

Materials & Safety Tips

Equipment / Tools:

  • Mild detergent or dish soap
  • Water
  • Soft cloth or sponge
  • Bucket
  • Screwdriver (if removing hardware)
  • Painter’s tape
  • Drop cloths or plastic sheets
  • Degreaser (optional for stubborn grease)

Before You Start Cleaning, Here are Some Tips-

  1. Put on your safety gear.
  2. Remove any objects from the work area.
  3. Use a leak-proof floor protector to cover the floor.
  4. Check the condition of the old paint; if it’s in good shape, proceed to the next step. If not, use a paint stripping product to remove the old paint and prepare the surface for a new, smooth finish.

Step-by-Step Process to Clean Kitchen Cabinets

We have all the preparation and are ready to clean our cabinets now. We have to clean this perfectly because we are cleaning this for painting. Once you have all the supplies gathered and prepared to clean, let’s start step by step.

Dust Cabinets

Before starting the cleaning, remove dust from the cabinet first. Use a soft cloth or duster to wipe or brush away any dust or dirt on the cabinet. This step will make the cleaning process more effective.

This is an essential process, and you should do that before using any liquid solution to clean the cabinet. It is like a bit of clean-up before deeper cleaning, and it is more effective. This makes sure you get rid of the easy stuff first.

Remove Cabinet Hardware

I told you about the screwdriver, remember? This time, we need that. If you need to remove hardware, you need this material. Removing the hardware and doors is crucial to ensure you can paint smoothly. If you skip this step, you are going to regret it later. Removing hardware can help you remove the previous paint (If you have one) and clean it wisely.

Remove all the knobs and handle by using a screwdriver; you have straight cabinets now. If you are using hardware, then make sure you label each part. If there are any hinges, then you may have to use a drill to remove them. Once you have removed all the cabinet knobs, handles, and other hardware, the cleaning process becomes more manageable, and you can paint without hindrance.

Protect Surrounding Areas

Regarding the necessary materials, we have listed drop cloths or plastic sheets; now, we will use them to protect our surrounding areas. This is crucial to protect the surrounding area and ensure a clean and efficient cabinet-cleaning process. Start with covering the floor, countertops, and appliances with drop cloths or plastic sheets. These plastic clothes protect your surrounding area from spills or splashes while cleaning. Also, it will help when you paint your cabinet. These clothes or plastic will protect your surrounding area from paint.

This process minimizes the risk of damage to your surrounding area and ensures a smooth cabinet cleaning experience. You can have a pleasant and stress-free cleaning and painting.

Prepare a Cleaning Solution

You have noticed the material list; mild detergent or dish soap is listed. These are the essential cleaning solutions. It is vital to use the right products for cleaning. Mixing a solution of warm water and mild detergent or dish soap is necessary for cleaning. You can add a degreaser to the mix if you find any stubborn grease or grime.

You can replace dish soap with vinegar. That’s a domestic way. Some people might not like the smell of vinegar, so dish soap is best. In the same way, you can mix some baking soda with the solution if your cabinet has tougher stains. Now, use a soft cloth or sponge to clean the cabinet. Now, a cleaning solution is ready to tackle dirt or grime, leaving your cabinets clean for paint.

Wash Cabinets

We all know how to wash, so we still give you the proper guide. You have the solution: you have a sponge or soft cloth. Just use the soft cloth or sponge, dip it into the solution you made, and squeeze it out. Now wipe down all the surfaces of the cabinet.

Always find a spot where there is a lot of grease or dirt. Take time and clean them properly. Because grease or dust can dull the paint and may not adjust with the cabinet perfectly, make sure not to use too much water. Too much water can cause damage.

Scrub Stubborn Stains

You may find some stubborn stains in cabinets. No worry!! It’s normal! If you find any stain that does not come out with a sponge or cloth, you can use a toothbrush or soft type brush to wipe out the stain.

When removing stains carefully, be careful not to scratch the surface. Remember that if you clean the cabinet properly, the paint will look good and stay in the cabinet for a long time.

Rinse and Dry

After scrubbing and cleaning the cabinet with a solution, we must rinse and dry it. You can use a clean dump cloth to remove any soap residue. Wipe down the cabinet with the cloth. Now, take a dry cloth to dry out the cabinet.

When using a dry cloth, ensure the fabric’s fibre does not come out. Otherwise, it can be stuck on the cabinet, and the paint may fade after painting. Use some soft cloth and ensure your cabinet becomes dry properly before painting.

Tape Off Areas

You may notice there is tape on the materials list. Why need tape? You will need the tape when you are not planning to paint the whole cabinet. You need to use the tape to cover areas you are not about to paint or put other paint later, such as walls or adjoining cabinets.

After tapping the areas, you are now ready to paint the cabinet like you want. It will feel satisfying when you remove the tapes after painting.

Prime if Necessary

It is an optional process but needs an old or repaired cabinet. If your cabinet is dark or you have made any repairs before, it will need prime. It is good to use prime before painting in repaired or dark cabinets.

Prime can help the paint adhere better. Also, if you want a smooth and pleasant finish to paint, you need to use prime. It’s an option but necessary.

Painting

You can paint your cabinet the way you want by following all the steps. You are ready to paint once your cabinets are clean, dry, and prepped.

Use a smooth brush and high-quality paint for your kitchen cabinet. Use expert tips for painting, get the perfect painted cabinet you always wanted, and change the kitchen environment.