How to Restore Painted Cabinets
- 1). Remove the cabinet doors, drawers and all hardware with a screwdriver. Place the doors and drawers in an area with ample ventilation and away from direct sunlight.
- 2). Spray the painted doors and drawers with a chemical stripper, using a spray bottle. Allow the chemical to penetrate the paint for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this part of the project outside to avoid breathing the fumes.
- 3). Drag a paint stripper, an edged tool designed to peel paint off a surface, along the doors and drawers.
- 4). Scrub tight corners with an old toothbrush. Press the blade of a putty knife into the corners to lift out the paint.
- 5). Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until the underlying wood is almost fully exposed. Repeat the process on the cabinet frame. Open all windows in the room where you're working on the frame to avoid breathing the fumes.
- 6). Go over the cabinet frame, doors and drawers with 220-grit sandpaper to remove any remaining paint and smooth the wood.
- 7). Paint or stain the cabinetry as desired. Let the paint or stain dry before installing the hardware and putting the doors and drawers back in place.
