Painting Vintage Refrigerators

An antique refrigerator can double as a work of art, whether it's still operating or not. If you have an antique fridge that has seen better days, you can restore the exterior with special paint. In just a few hours, an old fridge can look entirely new. The choice of color is up to you, and you can either go with a historical color such as green or white, or go wild with bright red, teal or yellow.

De-greasing cleaner
Hot water
Scrubbing pad
Sandpaper
Metal spray paint
Spray clear coat

Instructions

- 1
  Move the refrigerator to a work area. You will be spraying paint which can be very messy. Ideally, the fridge should be placed outside, on top of cardboard sheets and away from anything that could be sprayed with the paint.
- 2
  Clean the surface of the refrigerator. Vintage refrigerators often have a layer of grime after years of use. Use a de-greasing cleaner and go over the entire surface with hot water and a sponge. Use a scrubbing pad to get off any stubborn dirt. Dry it off with a soft cloth and let it air-dry the rest of the way.
- 3
  Sand down the surface. Use a metal sandpaper in a medium grade and go over the entire refrigerator. Repeat with a fine grade of sandpaper.
- 4
  Spray on the first coat. Make sure you are using a spray paint rated for use on metal. Apply a light, thin coat -- practice beforehand if necessary on a piece of cardboard. Brush up and blend any drips as they occur. Let this dry completely and apply the second coat of paint.
- 5
  Protect the surface. Once the paint is dry, spray on a layer of clear polyurethane. This will give the piece a nice gloss and help protect it from nicks and dings.

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Painting