Now that the holiday festivities and New Year celebrations are behind us, it might be time for a little refresh in the kitchen. We spend a ton of time in our kitchens making lunches, making coffee, rummaging through cupboards for afternoon snacks and catching up with family over dinner — and sometimes staring at the same cupboards every day can get boring. While completely gutting your kitchen may not be in your (or your wallet’s) interest, there are certainly plenty of ways to upgrade your space for a fraction of the cost—and, in this case, for less than $10.
If you’re not familiar with liquid sandpaper — sometimes called liquid gloss remover — primer is a chemical alternative to using sandpaper to prime a paint surface; it removes some of the existing paint, but not so much that it comes off completely. The chemicals darken the surface without completely removing the paint, providing a base that allows the new paint to adhere easily. Overall, by using a tool like liquid sandpaper, you’ll have a far less dusty DIY experience and the liquid can reach those hard-to-reach areas that traditional sandpaper can’t. Plus, you can get a bottle for under $9 at Home Depot (and under $12 on Amazon). All you need is a brush!
To begin, experts suggest washing the surface of the kitchen cabinet with soap and water to remove grease. Apply the liquid sandpaper with the brush of choice, then allow time for the chemicals to soften the exterior. Depending on the type of polish remover, you may need to wipe off the liquid with a wet cloth to prevent the chemicals from further softening the surface; be sure to check the bottle for instructions beforehand. After it is “sanded”, apply your cabinet paint with a roller to avoid visible brush strokes. (Having trouble choosing a color? Here are the best kitchen cabinet colors, according to interior designers.)
Kalila opted for Sherwin-Williams’ “Emerald” color and the finished look is as elegant as can be. For an extra smooth finish, liquid sandpaper is key. “Preparation is so important,” Kalila wrote in the comments of the video. “I get excited about starting projects and then want them finished quickly, so I don’t always prepare well.”
Other TikTokers raved about a brilliant hack to get professionally painted cabinets. “No dust. No sanding. Just a primer to roughen the surface? I’m sold!” wrote one user, while another said: “I used it back in the 60’s to repaint all my kitchen cabinets…it was great!”