Short answer
Clean kitchen cabinets with a degreaser, rinse them well with clean water, and let them dry fully before sanding or priming. Grease and cooking residue are a common cause of cabinet paint peeling, so this step matters more than it may seem.
Why cleaning matters
Cooking grease, steam and fingertip oils build up on cabinet surfaces. They collect most around the hob, the range hood, the area above the oven and the lower edges of the doors. Paint does not bond well to a greasy surface. The paint may look fine when it goes on and then lift later.
Primer does not seal grease in. It fails when it is laid over grease. Old furniture has the same problem with wax and polish build-up, covered in how to clean old wood furniture before refinishing.
What you need
- Gloves and eye protection
- A degreaser. Options include TSP or a TSP substitute, Krud Kutter, a solution of Dawn dish soap and water, or sugar soap in the UK.
- A bucket or spray bottle
- A non-scratch scrub pad, such as a grey or white Scotch-Brite pad
- A soft brush for profiles and detail
- Clean microfiber cloths and paper towels
- Drop cloths
Avoid steel wool before water-based paint. Fibres left in the surface can rust and show through the finish.
Step by step
- Remove doors, drawers and hardware. Label them, and place them somewhere you can clean them safely.
- Protect the floors. Lay drop cloths under the work area. Dirty water runs downhill, so plan for drips.
- Mix the degreaser. Follow the label for the dilution, which varies by brand.
- Apply and scrub. Work from the top down. Scrub with a non-scratch pad, and give extra attention to the areas near the hob and sink.
- Rinse. Wipe away the dirty residue with a clean, damp cloth. Then rinse again with clean water and a fresh cloth. Degreaser residue itself can block adhesion, so do not skip this.
- Optional final wipe. On stubborn areas, some painters wipe with denatured alcohol to remove any remaining film.
- Dry thoroughly. Let the cabinets dry for several hours, ideally overnight, before sanding or priming.
Problem areas
- Around the pulls and handles, where hands leave oil
- Near the hob and range hood, where grease settles
- Above the oven
- The lower edges of the doors, which pick up dirt from the floor
- The insides of cabinets under the sink, if you plan to paint the interior
MDF and particleboard
MDF and particleboard swell when they get wet. Use a cloth that is wrung out well, not one that is soaking, and dry the surfaces promptly.
Check before you sand
Check the surface before you move on.
- If water beads on the surface, there is residue left behind.
- If the surface feels tacky, there is still residue. Clean it again.
Move on only once the surface is clean and dry.
Next steps
Once the surfaces are clean and dry, scuff them with sandpaper and remove the dust. The right grit depends on the finish. See whether you have to sand stained cabinets before painting. Then prime with a bonding primer. For choices, see the best paint for kitchen cabinets.
Common mistakes
- Sanding before cleaning. You grind the grease into the surface.
- Skipping the rinse. Residue left after TSP or sugar soap can block adhesion.
- Using silicone or wax spray cleaners. Their additives leave a film that affects the paint.
- Relying on primer to seal grease in. Primer does not do that.
Safety
- Wear gloves and eye protection with TSP and strong degreasers.
- Never mix ammonia-based cleaners with bleach.
- Some areas restrict phosphate-based TSP. Dispose of rinse water according to local rules.