How to Take Off the Glossy Shine From Painted Kitchen Cabinets

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Things You'll Need

  • All-purpose surface cleaner

  • Dish soap

  • Rags

  • Lint-free cloth

  • Sandpaper

  • Sanding block

  • Soapy water

  • Matte clear coat

  • Brush

Remove the shine from your cabinets.

If your cabinets have been painted with a gloss or semi-gloss finish, they may be shinier than you like. These paints typically are not used for cabinets, but it is easy to use them accidentally. Fortunately, there is no need to repaint your cabinets. You simply can sand the shine away while leaving the cabinet's color and finish intact. This is an easy process, but does require some patience and attention to detail.

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Step 1

Wash the cabinets with a rag and all-purpose surface cleaner to prepare it for sanding. Dry it with a lint-free cloth, or allow it to air dry.

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Step 2

Wrap a piece of 300-grit sandpaper around a sanding block.

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Step 3

Lightly sand the entire surface of the cabinets. The goal is to scuff the surface of the paint to dull the shine without removing any of the paint.

Step 4

Wash the cabinets with soapy water and a rag to remove sanding dust. Once they are clean, rinse them with clean water and allow them to dry.

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Step 5

Turn on all the lights and assess the shine. If 300-grit sandpaper did not remove enough of it, sand the cabinets with 200-grit, followed by another sanding with 300-grit. The 200-grit will roughen the surface more intensely, and the 300-grit will remove the marks left by the harsher sanding.

Step 6

Brush on a layer of matte clear coat if desired.

Warning

Do not use an electric sander as it easily can remove the paint.

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