If you’re considering painting your kitchen cabinets, one of the most important things you can do with your time is how to clean your kitchen cabinets before painting! Cleaning kitchen cabinets before painting is one of the most important steps in painting kitchen cabinets, if not the most critical step, cabinets can be ridiculously dirty. So, how do you clean cabinets before painting?
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Do You Have To Clean Cabinets Before Painting?
The wood does not need to be cleaned before painting. No matter how clean your kitchen is, oil stains must be wiped off before preparing a dish. Paint that sticks to the oil seal door won’t stick to water-based paint either.
How Do You Prep Cabinets For Painting?
- Before beginning to repair your cabinets, determine their condition and how bad they are.
- After the Cabinet is emptied, then the Doors are removed from each cabinet.
- The third step is to get rid of dirt and grease and inspect the damage.
- In Step 4, you should prep the sand and the area.
- You need to vacuum the area in step 5.
Best Cleaners For Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting
1. Krud Kutter
Kurt is my go-to skim cabinet! It’s easy to wipe off with a simple spray and has a mild smell with no aftertaste. It’s great for cleaning dirty, greasy surfaces, and I’ve found it’s perfect for kitchen cabinets.
How to Use It:
To use Krud Kutter, spray it on and let it sit for five minutes. Then, wipe with a mild, clean cloth. Extra dirty cabinets can take up to 10 minutes to clear the grease.
2. Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
TSP can be found at your local home improvement store. It’s a powerful cleaning agent and heavy-duty degreaser that easily cuts through grime and grease on kitchen cabinets. TSP is moderately toxic if ingested and can irritate your skin. If you use this product, wearing gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves is a must!
How to Use It:
To use TSP, you first have to dilute it in water. Dip a soft-bristled brush or rag into the cleaning solution, then scrub to clean the cabinets. Use eye protection, gloves, and long sleeves.
3. Mineral Spirits
If you are like me, you associate mineral spirits with painting. It was always hanging around my parents’ garage and used as a paint thinner when I was growing up. Now I know it’s suitable for other things, like cutting through dirt and grime on wooden cabinets and a variety of surfaces! Mineral spirits should only be used as a degreaser before refinishing cabinets and not as an everyday cleaner.
How to Use It:
Apply the mineral spirits to the cabinet doors using a soft cloth. Use a small brush to get into the cracks and crevices. After using mineral spirits, wash with gentle soap and water.
4. White Vinegar & Lemon Juice
This is a natural kitchen degreaser you can make at home! A solution made with white vinegar and lemon juice is a natural, non-toxic grease-cutting option. The acetic acid in vinegar and lemons work together to cut through grease.
How to Use It:
To make a natural solution take ½ cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 quart of warm water. Then, use a microfiber cloth or nonabrasive sponge to scrub.
5. Baking Soda
Another great degreaser for cleaning kitchen cabinets is baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is a mixture of sodium and bicarbonate. This natural ingredient is used in the kitchen to help cakes rise and as a grease-cutting cleaner!
How to use:
First, mix a solution of hot water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Next, put some dry baking soda on a plate or in a nearby open container.
Spray the cabinets with the vinegar solution, then dip a non-abrasive sponge or rag in the baking soda to scrub the cabinets. When baking soda is mixed with a vinegar solution, a soapy solution occurs.
6. Dawn Dish Soap
Dawn dish soap is a powerful degreaser and a great multi-purpose cleaner! This unique soap has a reputation as a robust super-cleaner for almost any area of your home. Thanks to a special recipe full of surfactants – the chemicals that dissolve things, like grease and grime!
How to Use It:
Combine some dawn dish soap in a bucket with warm water. Then use a microfiber rag or non-abrasive sponge to degrease kitchen cabinets.
What Is The Best Way to Clean Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting?
You may only plan to paint the outside of the cabinets, but preparing kitchen cabinets for cleaning involves the entire cabinet, inside and out! Dust can clump together to form cracks and crevices that hinder your painting projects. Taking care of your cabinets inside and out can also help you refresh your space. If you take the time to repaint your cabinets, your entire kitchen deserves some refresh! It pays to take the time to organize and clean your cabinets from the inside out.
Conclusion
When painting your kitchen cabinets, an important step is degreasing with a good degreaser, such as those we mentioned above. This will help you get proper adhesion with your primer and paint. If you clean and degrease properly, then you are off to a good start in refinishing your cabinets and creating the look you want in your kitchen.
