Painting Over Enamel

Clean the wall or item with soap and water before deglossing. Use a mild soap and warm water so that it rinses clean. Wash the wall or item a second time with just warm water to ensure all the soap and residue is gone. If you are repainting a wall, put drop cloths on the floor at the base of the wall to protect it.

Wipe the enamel coated wall or item with a deglosser. Also called liquid sandpaper, deglossers create a rough surface, which allows the new paint to stick. Protect your hands with rubber gloves. Pour the deglosser onto a damp cloth and wipe the wall or item. Follow with a complete wipe-down using a dry rag. Allow the wall or item to dry before continuing. A wall can take several hours to dry thoroughly.

Place protective tape around windows or floorboards if you are painting a wall, and around handles and knobs if painting something like a jewelry box.

Apply a coat of latex primer to the wall or item once the deglosser has dried. The primer is applied with a paintbrush in the same manner as painting. If you are painting an item, such as a jewelry box, use small strokes so that the primer is applied evenly. Use a paint tray and paint roller if priming a wall. Spread the primer using even strokes and going in one direction to prevent any streaks. Allow the primer to dry for several hours before applying your new coat of paint.

Paint your wall or item. Apply the paint with even strokes that all go in the same direction. Use a paint tray and roller brush for walls, and smaller brushes to detail corners. Allow the first coat of paint to dry for several hours and then repeat with a second coat.