- 1). Open all the windows and doors in the kitchen to create a well-ventilated space. Remove all the cabinet hardware using a screwdriver.
- 2). Put on rubber gloves. Saturate a clean, soft cloth with paint thinner. Wipe down the exterior surface area of all the cabinets, adding more paint thinner to your cloth as you go. If there are several coats of paint already on the cabinets, you may have to repeat this process so that you have a completely clean canvas to work with.
- 3). Combine 1/2 gallon of water and 1/2 gallon ammonia in a bucket. Dip a sponge in the solution and wipe down all the cabinets to rinse off the paint thinner. Allow the cabinets half an hour to dry.
- 4). Dip a 3-inch nylon brush in a shellac-based primer and coat the exterior of the cabinets with a thin layer. This will allow the paint to stick without sanding. Allow it two hours to dry and clean your brush with denatured alcohol.
- 5). Paint the cabinets with an oil-based paint, which will give them a hard, stain-resistant finish. Apply a thin coat to each cabinet and allow it to dry.
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