I always thought you had to sand old paint off before repainting, but my neighbor's trick saved me a weekend.

I was getting ready to repaint my kitchen cabinets, which had this thick, glossy finish from the 90s. Everything I read said to sand it all down to bare wood for the new paint to stick. I bought a big orbital sander and a ton of 80-grit paper, dreading the dust and the time. Then my neighbor Mike, who flips houses, came over and saw me setting up. He said, 'Willow, you're killing yourself. Just use a liquid deglosser.' I was super skeptical, but I got a bottle of Zinsser's B-I-N deglosser for about $15. I wiped it on with a rag, waited ten minutes, and the surface was totally dull and ready for primer. It took maybe an hour for the whole set. One side says you must sand for a perfect bond, the other says a chemical deglosser is just as good if the old finish is sound. Has anyone else tried this method on cabinets, and did the paint hold up over time?

3 comments

3 Comments

theawest1mo ago

Mike's trick works because that deglosser is basically a mild chemical sandpaper. The key is that your old finish has to be totally stuck on, no chips or peeling. I used the same method on my bathroom vanity three years ago and it's still perfect, no cracks or peeling at all. You do need to follow up with a good bonding primer, like an oil-based one, to lock it down. Skipping the sanding dust was a game changer for doing it inside my apartment. Just make sure you clean the deglosser residue off really well with soapy water before you prime.

jamesmason9d ago

Yeah, that soapy water clean-up step is key. Mason.paige had it right with the extra scuff, too.

mason.paige1mo ago

Right? That deglosser trick is a total lifesaver. I did my old dresser with it and the paint hasn't budged in two years. Just scuffing it up a little with a sanding sponge after the deglosser gave me extra peace of mind.