Thoroughly scuff the surfaces of the cabinet with 120-grit sandpaper—enough to get a dusting, but not so much that you tear through the paper-thin laminate surface. Clean up any dusty remains with a handheld vacuum and a damp cloth.
Yes—and it's actually quite simple. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to paint laminate furniture, including project-specific tips for painting laminate cabinets, desks, coffee tables, bookshelves and dressers.
Tip: Latex paint is recommended for laminate surface painting projects because of its durability and smooth finish.
Painting laminate wasn't difficult, but I did find it more time-consuming than painting wood. To sum it up, the most important steps are to sand and prime all the surfaces before painting. If you were to skip those two steps, your paint would have nothing to adhere to and would most likely peel right off.
Laminate is a picky surface, so you'll need a high-quality laminate-specific primer. If you aren't sure which one is best, consult your paint store professional. A good primer will prevent future peeling or lifting in the paint.
A couple things to note for the laminate cabinet makeover; You could get away with 1 coat of primer, 2 coats of paint, and 1 top coat and it will look great.
Yes! It's easier than you think to transform your laminate kitchen with paint. If you use the right products and follow this step-by-step guide you'll end up with a durable and long-lasting finish that will look great for a long time. Even after years of daily use, our cabinets still look perfect.
Combine some dawn dish soap in a bucket with warm water. Then use a microfiber rag or non-abrasive sponge to degrease kitchen cabinets.
For areas where you may have more built up, Dawn recommends applying the dish soap directly to your sponge, and with a bit of running water, scrub the tough grime away. White Vinegar: The most natural degreasing agent, yet still incredibly effective at removing tough cabinet grossness, is white vinegar.
Dawn Dish Soap
For heavy grease though, I would resort to the Krud Kutter cleaner I recommended earlier, but for small amounts of grease, or just cleaning for dirt and food particles, Dawn works. I painted a set of cabinet doors once with hinges that were completely caked in grease.
Vinegar, which is a natural cleaning agent, will break down the film without hurting the laminate surface. (Note: The same rules about water apply to either of these DIY solutions. Make sure to wring the mop so it is only slightly damp.
Cleaning laminate cabinets is a great way to make your kitchen sparkle. And one guy knows the best way to clean kitchen cabinets and that's Mr. Clean®! He has just what you need to power through the tough grease, daily dust, and stuck-on food messes that make your cabinets feel downright lackluster.
Directions for Cleaning Laminate Cabinets:
Mix 1 oz. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with 4 cups warm water in a spray bottle or mix a stronger solution for very greasy cabinets. Apply Simple Green. Spray the solution onto a clean, non-abrasive, damp cloth or microfiber pad and wash until clean.
'If you prefer not to sand to rough up the surface before you paint, you still have options that will work great. One option is to use a product called liquid sandpaper. It will chemically interact with the surface of the furniture to dull it and make it ready to paint.
Latex or water-based paint works well on laminate cabinets if you use a good primer. But before it fully cures, the paint remains sticky and may peel off easily if two painted surfaces bump against each other. With a water-based primer underneath.
It turns out you can paint laminate cabinets, but you need to do a little prep work and use a special primer to get the best results.
Although professionally painted cabinets should last 8-10 years there are a few factors that can drastically impact your cabinet's lifetime, requiring repainting only 3-4 years later. How long your kitchen cabinets will last depends largely on the way the paint was applied, and with what tools.
One is to look for a paper or plastic film on the front of the cabinet. Another is to check if the cabinet is lightweight and has a smooth, shiny surface. If you have any questions, you can always consult one of our design professionals to help you determine if your cabinets are made from laminate.
And, with that final layer of topcoat dry, you've given a fresh new look to an old laminate countertop. The painted surface is durable, but not quite as resistant to water and scratches as the laminate, so be sure to wipe up spills quickly and avoid scratching the paint as much as possible.
The BIN shellac-based primer, Cover Stain primer, and clear shellac primer mentioned above all come in aerosol spray paint cans and are SO good at getting paint to stick to laminate cabinets or furniture.