What Do You Put on Wood Cabinets Before You Paint Them to Make the Paint Stick?

Cleaning Solution

• If your cabinets are covered with dirt and grime, the paint simply won't stick to them. Clean the cabinets using a basic cleaning solution. HomeTips.com suggests using a solution with trisodium phosphate. Certain areas, such as those around a stove, will have more build-up and may require extra scrubbing to cut through the grime. Thoroughly rinse the cleaning solution off the cabinets and allow them to dry fully before painting.

Sandpaper

• Paint won't stick on cabinets that have a glossy surface. Using sandpaper on them breaks down the sheen so that the paint will stick. Depending on the size of the job, you can use a small piece of paper with your hand or a large sanding machine.

Primer

• Primer can help your paint to stay in place and is especially important when you're using a color that's several shades lighter than the current color. Add just one layer of primer, then wait for it to fully dry before adding one or two coats of your chosen paint.

Do Nothing

• In general, wood is an easy surface to paint. If your cabinets aren't glossy and you've kept them relatively clean, you may not need to do anything other than simply wiping them down before you start your paint job.