How to Remove Paint From a Kitchen Cabinet

Choose a chemical paint-remover solution to strip the old paint and remove it from the kitchen cabinet. The type of paint remover you use depends on the current state of your cabinet's paint job. Use liquid paint remover if you are just trying to strip a maximum of two layers of old paint. If you are trying to remove more, as in the case of an old cabinet that has been painted multiple times, use a paste-based remover.

Apply the paint remover to the kitchen cabinet, in the area from which you wish to take off the paint. Read the manufacturer's guidelines to learn how long you should leave the chemical on the cabinets, as the rate of removal varies depending on the specific chemicals that the company used to make the product.

Test the cabinet surface to see if the paint remover is ready to be removed. Scratch the cabinet with a blunt-ended object, such as an old pen or the tip of a paintbrush handle. If you can see the bare wood, the chemicals may be wiped off with a wet rag or sponge.

Sand the cabinet with fine-grade sandpaper to smooth the wood and remove any last vestiges of old paint before applying a new layer of fresh paint.