Trisodium phosphate cleaners (TSP) are very effective. They can easily remove grease, as well as the glossy finish that's usually painted on the laminate. This will give you just the raw surface to work with, allowing you to rub the new paint in well.
Remove your cabinet doors from the cabinet boxes. The first thing you are going to do is in your quart bucket measure 4oz or a 1/2 cup of TSP. Then fill your larger bucket with 2 gallons of warm water. Pour the 1/2 cup of TSP into the water and using a paint stirrer stir the water dissolving the powder.
A water-based all-purpose cleaner is generally safe to use on laminate cabinets if you need a little more power than plain water. You can also use liquid hand soap or dish detergent to clean the surfaces. After cleaning the laminate with any cleanser, go over it with a clean cloth to remove the remnants.
After thoroughly scrubbing away any grease, grime or cleaner buildup from the surface of the cabinets with a good laminate cleaner/degreaser (trisodium phosphate, or a TSP substitute, but follow directions carefully), take the gloss off the laminate with 180-grit sandpaper.
Mix TSP with warm water in a bucket according to package directions. You can find TSP at most hardware or home improvement stores. Using rags, wipe down all surfaces to be painted, paying particular attention to the pull area, where most of the dirt and grease collects. Make sure the surface is grease-free.
Standard TSP must be rinsed away with clean water. Depending on how dirty the surface is, several rinses may be necessary. As a general rule, if the water in the rinse bucket is dirty, it is worth your effort to rinse the wall again with clean water. No-rinse TSP is fairly new invention.
Can you stain laminate cabinets? You can stain laminate cabinets using tinted polyurethane stain or gel stain. Since laminate isn't real wood, using ordinary liquid wood stains will leave you with a streaky and splotchy surface: that's because they won't get absorbed.
Good-quality wood glue and a clamp to hold the laminate against the core is a good way to repair laminate coating that is peeling. Once the glue has set and dried, you can begin to clean the cabinet doors and drawers.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface. Wood Veneers give the impression of a more desired quality wood without being as costly.
INSL-X STIX Waterborne Bonding Primer is one of the best primers for laminate furniture. This primer is made specifically to bond to surfaces that are hard to coat, and will give you a smooth, level finish.
Pros of Cleaning with TSP
Suitability for exterior surfaces: TSP works well—and without damage—on a variety of surfaces, including brick and stone, cement, wood, and roofing. If the surface is previously painted, you should expect to repaint after cleaning with TSP (see next).
It can damage many metal and painted surfaces, and can stain woods. It is not recommended for use on glass, either, since it will leave a filmy residue. TSP can also be used as a masonry cleaner.
Create a cleaning solution with 1-part baking soda, 2 parts warm water and the lemon juice. Add the solution to a spray bottle and spray the liquid onto the kitchen cabinets. Leave for 2-3 minutes, allowing the baking soda to work its magic. Use the soft sponge to gently scrub the grease away.
The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done.
Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish. Try ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex Enamel for lighter colors, and All Surface Latex Enamel Base for deeper hues.
Melamine is cheaper than laminate as it is manufactured by a method which is not cost intensive. Laminate is more durable than melamine and more resistant to heat and chemicals. Melamine is produced with a pressure of just 300-500psi while to make a laminate a pressure of 1400psi is required.
Using a flattened plastic straw, blow any powdery glue dust out of the crack. Then spread a small amount of wood glue into the crack using a glue-filled syringe (available at craft and hardware stores). Press down on the veneer and release several times to make sure the glue spreads thoroughly.
Score the veneer surface in several locations with a utility knife. Wipe a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water onto the surface with a sponge. Let the vinegar and water soak into the veneer, then try to pry up the veneer with the putty knife.
You can stain laminate in two ways; use a gel stain or latex craft paint. Whatever you decide to choose to stain your laminate furniture, the most important thing is to prime the surface. Without proper primer, the laminate staining would be an utter failure.
You canNOT stain laminate. It's not wood! The stain has nothing to soak into, and will literally sit on top of the laminate and never fully dry. It will be a nasty sticky mess forevermore.
After doing some research, I discovered Minwax Polyshades allows you to stain laminate, giving it a wood stained look, though I must be careful in my application. The polyurethane combined with the stain makes for a thicker solution and must be applied with a steady hand. Here's what I used: 150 Sand Grit paper.