How to Remove Paint Drips From Cabinets
When painting or staining cabinets--however carefully--you may accidentally allow the paint to drip. Paint drips occur when you apply paint too thickly, creating droplets, or when you splatter paint onto unwanted surfaces. To avoid drips, thoroughly cover and tape the area surrounding your cabinets and apply moderate amounts of paint or stain with even brushstrokes. If you still experience dripping, you can remove paint drips whether they are wet or dry.
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Things You'll Need
- Rag Denatured alcohol Paint remover Single-edge razor blade Sandpaper Paint or stain Paintbrush Paint roller
Instructions
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Locate the paint drips on your cabinet. True Value recommends shining a bright light at a low angle across the surface to pinpoint any imperfections that are not immediately visible.
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Wipe up wet splattered paint carefully with a clean rag, then scrub the area with denatured alcohol or a cleaning product designed for paint removal. If the drip is already partially dry or the result of excessive paint pooling into a droplet, allow it to dry fully before attempting removal.
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Slice the dried drip off the cabinet surface slowly, using a single-edge razor blade. You may need to shave several layers to remove all of the paint. HandymanUSA.com recommends scraping in the direction of the grain so the razor blade does not catch on wood fibers.
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Sand the area lightly to remove any leftover paint residue.
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Touch up the sanded area with matching paint or stain. If there are several drips or the repaired area stands out from the rest of the cabinet surface, you may want to refinish the whole section.
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Allow the fresh paint or stain to dry completely before using.
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Tips & Warnings
If the drips are on a cabinet door or drawer, it may be easiest to detach the section before paint drip removal. Also keep in mind that wiping wet drips may smudge and stain a larger area than if you allow the drip to dry and then shave it off.
References
- Photo Credit paint image by jeancliclac from Fotolia.com
