What to Use to Strip Kitchen Cabinets

People often decide to repaint their cabinets as a way of freshening up their kitchen without spending a fortune. In many cases, before you can repaint your cabinets, you have to strip the paint or stain already on them. The process can be time consuming, but when done right, the new paint will go on cleanly and smoothly, resulting in kitchen cabinets that look brand new.

Paint Stripper

You'll need a good chemical paint stripper to remove the paint or stain from your kitchen cabinet. There are several different types on the market, and you'll find them at home improvement stores.

Brushes

You can apply the paint stripper with a paintbrush, or pour it on the cabinet surface and spread it with a paintbrush. Be sure to let the paint stripper sit for awhile before trying to remove the old paint.

Cleaner

Before removing the paint, you should clean the cabinets with an all-purpose cleaner or furniture cleaner.

After Stripping

After the paint has been stripped from the cabinets, you'll need to clean the wood surface with lacquer cleaner or denatured alcohol to remove the paint stripper from the surface. You can use a clean, dry cloth to apply it to the cabinets.

Sanding

Your cabinets will also need to be sanded before being painted. Use a fine sandpaper and be sure to go over the entire surface.

Safety Precautions

Because of the chemicals and fumes in paint strippers, you should work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves and safety goggles. Also be sure to familiarize yourself with the instructions and safety information for the product you are using.