How to Paint Non-Wood Kitchen Cabinets White

Remove dirt and grime from surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner, warm water and a sponge or a terry cloth rag. Use mineral spirits to remove stubborn grease. Rinse the cabinets with clean water and wipe dry.

Sand surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper to degloss, which provides adequate roughness so new primer and paint can adhere. Rinse with a clean, damp cloth or tack cloth.

Prime plastic laminate and bare steel with oil primer. For extra holding power on laminate, use a solvent-based bonding primer. While spraying the primer assures a smooth surface for the top coat, you can use a brush or a roller. Allow the primer to dry overnight. Bonding primer needs two or three days to dry. If the paint on steel cabinets is intact, primer is unnecessary.

Sand with 220-grit sandpaper to remove dust and dried paint bits from the surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth or tack cloth.

Pour a small amount of paint into a paint pan or bucket to avoid contaminating the paint can with debris and paint clumps. Apply the top coat with a 3-inch brush, working in long strokes. Brush with the grain by moving in the same direction the grain would be if the surface were actually wood. This usually means up and down. Allow to dry overnight.

Apply a second and third top coat, if desired. Sand with 220-grit sandpaper between coats, but not after the final coat. Clean with a cloth and allow each coat to dry overnight.