How to Repaint Kitchen Appliances

Painting old appliances can give them a new look.

Paint can be a cost-effective way to give a kitchen appliance a new look. Repainting appliances with appliance paint can give your old appliances, a new, trendy look and save you from having to replace old, scratched or dated appliances.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Water
• Large towel
• Scouring pad
• 180-grit sandpaper
• Painter's tape
• Painter's tarp
• Primer
• Paint brush
• Appliance paint

Instructions

1. Clean your kitchen appliances with soap and water to remove any dirt build-up. Dry completely with a large towel before continuing to ensure the appliance paint will adhere properly.

2. Remove any chipping paint with a scouring pad. Press the pad to the appliance and move your hand in a circular motion over the appliance, focusing on areas that are already flaking.

3. Sand the appliance down lightly with 180-grit sandpaper. Be careful not to change the shape of the appliance's surface. You only want to make the surface slightly rough so the new paint can better grip the top of the appliance.

4. Cover hardware and control panels with painter's tape. These appliance parts do not take well to paint and need to be covered to prevent damage. Remove any pieces that should not be painted if they cannot be covered.

5. Move the appliance to a well ventilated room to minimize fumes when painting. Place the appliance on a painter's tarp to protect the floor from potential permanent damage.

6. Brush or spray on a light coat of primer designed for kitchen appliances. Let the primer dry completely.

7. Apply appliance paint in a thin layer with a paint brush or spray nozzle, depending on the type of paint you have. Be careful to clean up dripping paint, as it can cause future cracking and belittle the appearance of the paint job. Let the paint dry.

8. Repeat Step 7. Let the appliance dry at least 12 hours before moving back to its place in your kitchen. Giving the paint this time to set will help prevent future chips and cracking.

Tips & Warnings

• Applying paint over chipping paint will cause the new paint to chip.

• Thin paint layers help avoid dripping and create a more even finish.

• Only use appliance paint in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Change the Look of Your Kitchen with Appliance Paint

Resources

• Kitchen Makeover on a Budget: The Power of Paint