How to Prep Cabinets for Painting

Open the cabinet doors and remove them by backing out the hinge screws with a Philips screw driver in a counterclockwise direction. Place the doors on a work surface such as a workbench or saw horses.

Remove the hinges and door handles by removing the holding screws with a Philips screw driver turned in counterclockwise direction. Place all of the screws and door hardware in plastic sandwich bags to keep from loosing any of the small parts.

Clean doors and the cabinet framework that will be painted with a mild spray cleaner and a clean rag to remove dirt and grease. Do not saturate the cabinet finish with cleaner, and dry the surface with a towel immediately after cleaning.

Sand the surfaces of the cabinet door and cabinet framework with medium sandpaper to remove scratches or rough spots. Wrap the sandpaper around a sanding block, or use an electric finishing sander to save time. Be aware that the old finish does not need to be taken down to the bare wood with medium sandpaper.

Sand the entire cabinet and door with fine sandpaper, using an electric finish sander. Cover all areas to ensure good paint adhesion and a smooth, uniform finish.

Wipe the cabinets and doors with a damp sponge as a final step before painting. Rinse out the sponge with clean water frequently. Do not saturate the finish with water. Wipe with a clean, dry towel.