How to Repaint Old Wooden Cabinets

Empty the cabinet. Using a screwdriver, remove the cabinet doors' top and bottom hinges. Keep a firm hand on the doors while unscrewing the hinges to prevent any accidents. Remove the doors.

Lay the cabinet doors on a flat surface covered with drop cloths. Cover countertops and other adjacent surfaces with drop cloths.

Combine 1 gallon warm water and 1/4 cup trisodium phosphate in a bucket. Wear rubber gloves and eye goggles for protection. Using a clean rag, wash the cabinet doors and cabinet frame with the solution to remove filth and prepare the surfaces for paint.

Refill the bucket with clean warm water. Using a fresh rag, wipe the cabinet frame and doors with the warm water. Promptly dry the rinsed cabinets with clean towels.

Inspect the cabinets for nicked and chipped wood. Wherever you find damages, use a putty knife to fill the gouges with nonshrinking wood putty. Scrape off excess putty, and let the patches dry one hour.

Rub 120-grit sandpaper over the dry wood putty until the patches are flat. Sand the cabinet frame and cabinet doors to create a dull surface for proper paint adhesion. Wipe a tack cloth over the surfaces to remove sanding dust.

Prime the cabinet frame and doors with a coat of oil-based primer. Apply the primer in smooth strokes, using a natural-bristle brush. Let the primer dry overnight.

Go over the dried primer with 150-grit sandpaper to smooth any imperfections. Wipe away the sandpaper dust, using another tack cloth.

Apply two finish coats of high-gloss oil paint over the cabinet frame and doors. Apply the paint in smooth strokes, using the natural-bristle brush. Let both finish coats dry separately for 24 hours.

Replace the doors on the cabinet frame.