No, you do not need to sand if you use a quality deglosser (often called "liquid sandpaper"). Deglossers chemically break down the existing clear coat or varnish to provide a dull surface for primer and paint to bond with.
Yes, you can use a deglosser (often called "liquid sandpaper") instead of sanding. It is a chemical solvent designed to dissolve and soften the top layer of an existing finish, giving it a dull, tacky surface for new paint or varnish to bond to without creating dust.
The deglosser cleans and prepares the surface for repainting. If the original paint was latex, deglossers make its surface slightly tacky. If the original paint was oil, the deglossers are less effective... a light sanding to scuff up the surface might be desirable before using the deglosser, or instead of it.
Yes, deglosser (or liquid sandpaper) is highly effective for preparing cabinets for painting or restaining, acting as a faster, less messy alternative to manual sanding. It works by chemically breaking down existing varnish, polyurethane, or lacquer, creating a dull surface that allows new primer and paint to adhere strongly without heavy sanding.
Vinegar will not effectively degloss paint on its own. While a mixture of white vinegar and water is excellent for cleaning dirt, grease, and grime off cabinets or walls prior to painting, it cannot chemically melt or dull the shiny topcoat of cured paint like a true commercial liquid deglosser.
For a major kitchen cabinet project, Klean-Strip Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser is the best overall choice. It quickly cuts through the stubborn grease and heavy lacquer typically found in kitchens, creating a tacky, porous surface that ensures your new primer and paint adhere perfectly without the mess of manual sanding.
You can paint over glossy surfaces without sanding—as long as you prep carefully and use the right bonding primer. This shortcut saves time while still giving you long-lasting, professional-looking results.
The Golden Rule of Sanding means not skipping more than one grit through each step of sanding a surface. This is a basic rule anyone should follow whether they are working with metal, wood, or any other surface. Every scratch you make must be removed by the next finer grit.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
This dual action of cleaning and prepping makes deglossers an efficient choice for many projects. The process is relatively simple: apply the deglosser with a clean cloth or brush, allow it to work for the recommended time (usually just a few minutes), and then wipe off any excess.
Refinishing With Paint
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
The best professional-grade paints for kitchen cabinets are hybrid alkyd enamels and waterborne polyurethanes. They deliver a tough, self-leveling, and chip-resistant finish. Top industry choices include Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, Benjamin Moore Advance, and INSL-X Cabinet Coat.
Use a Liquid Deglosser
Liquid deglosser, which is also known as liquid sandpaper, is a time-saving alternative to sanding. It works by breaking down the glossy or varnished surface of the cabinets. Liquid deglosser dulls the existing finish, allowing primer and paint to bond effectively.
One of the quickest and easiest kitchen makeovers is done by changing your plain cabinet door with some good paint. You can use the same colour for both or go with two completely different shades when painting cabinets. Once the paint is dry, finish by adding new hardware in a style that complements the look.
Applying Excessive Pressure
Pressing down too hard on your sander is a common mistake. It can be tempting to apply more pressure to speed up the process, but this can create swirl marks, cut-through, and uneven sanding. Excessive pressure also generates heat that causes premature loading of your abrasive discs.
If you plan on adding more coats of clear, don't bother to polish, just wet sand them with a fine grit. But be careful. With only two coats of clear, it will be really easy to sand through and ruin the color coat.
A light touch and patience are the key to avoiding those swirls. Just rest your hand on the sander; don't press. The weight of your arm provides enough pressure. Move at a snail's pace; no more than 1 in.
Key Points
Yes, you can absolutely paint over painted cabinets. The secret to making it last and preventing peeling or chipping is proper surface preparation. You rarely need to strip down to bare wood; instead, focus on cleaning, de-glossing, and using the right primer.
If you don't sand your cabinets before painting, the new paint won't properly adhere to the slick, glossy, or greasy surface. This frequently leads to peeling, chipping, visible bumps, and an uneven finish that is highly vulnerable to everyday wear and tear.
Deglosser (liquid sandpaper) and sanding are both used to prep surfaces for new paint or varnish, but they work very differently. Deglosser is a chemical solvent that dissolves the shiny topcoat so paint can stick, while sanding is an abrasive process that physically scuffs the surface and smooths out imperfections.
Deglossing cabinets (often called "liquid sandpaper") is a dust-free alternative to traditional sanding. It chemically etches or dulls the existing varnish, lacquer, or paint so that your new primer and paint can bond properly.
Yes, Murphy’s Oil Soap is an excellent, safe, and effective cleaner for finished wood kitchen cabinets, often used to remove grease and restore shine without damaging the wood grain. It is gentle enough for regular cleaning but effective on grime.