How to Extend the Life of Your Painted Kitchen Cabinets
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a powerful way to transform your space and protect your cabinets from scuffs, scratches, water damage, and more. That said, even the best paint jobs can fade and falter over time. So, while a thorough paint job will keep your cabinets beautiful and safe for a time, the extent of this protection largely depends on how well you maintain your painted cabinets. If you’re not prepared to contend with threats such as sunlight, moisture, and impact, you may need to seek Raleigh painting services to restore your cabinetry sooner than you would have hoped.
How to Make Sure Your Kitchen Cabinets Always Look Up to Date
Use Quality Paint at the Outset
This probably goes without saying, but the first step to ensuring the longevity of your painted cabinets is to invest in high-quality paint and painting services from the beginning. Kitchen cabinet painting is a somewhat challenging task that requires several steps to get right, which is why it’s best to hire experienced professionals to get the job done. Go with a company that’s transparent regarding the products they use so you can rest assured that your cabinets will end up with a smooth, even, durable coating that’s easy to maintain. Most experts will use an interior low-VOC alkyd enamel paint for kitchen cabinets, though other options are viable as well.
Perform Routine Cleaning
After your cabinets have been properly painted, it’s up to you to take good care of them. The best way to keep your kitchen cabinets durable and beautiful is to clean them regularly. You’ll want to be somewhat gentle as you clean these features so as to not scratch them, so steer clear of abrasive cleaners and pads. Consider using environmentally-friendly detergents and water to remove dust, dirt, grease, and light stains. For more stubborn stains, mix two parts baking soda with one part warm water and a few drops of dish soap, then gently circle over the stain with a cloth until the stain fades. Be sure to thoroughly dry your cabinets inside and out after cleaning them, as standing water can deteriorate paint, warp wood, and attract pests and mold.
Control Your Internal Climate
One of the biggest threats to your painted kitchen cabinets is your kitchen’s climate. Actively-used kitchens tend to experience significant fluctuations in temperature and humidity from various appliances and cooking activities. These variations in climate can cause your cabinets and other features to expand, contract, and warp, even if they’re thoroughly sealed by paint. To mitigate these effects, try to keep your kitchen at a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit at all times, and maintain a relative humidity level between 25% and 55%. Maintaining these conditions can be a challenge in the kitchen, but it’s important to stay aware of these matters if you want to extend the lifespan of your painted cabinets.
Keep Your Cabinets Out of the Sun
While internal forces should be your primary concern when protecting your painted kitchen cabinets, note that outdoor light from the sun can put your cabinets at risk as well. Over time, excessive exposure to sunlight can cause your paint job to fade. This fading is more noticeable for certain types and colors of paint, but if you’d rather keep your cabinets looking fresh, you might minimize the amount of natural light that graces your cabinets each day by closing the shades or blinds at certain times.
Seal the Deal
While quality paint provides a protective shield for your cabinets, it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile and apply an additional layer of protection. You can do so by sealing your painted cabinets with a polyurethane or epoxy sealant. Just as sealing a garage floor will guard the concrete from impact, spills, and other threats, a cabinet sealant will protect your paint job from moisture, scratches, fading, and more.
The cabinet sealing process has a lot in common with cabinet painting. You can spray or brush on sealant, but only after you've prepared your cabinets as well as the work area. Read our blog, "How We Paint Kitchen Cabinets: What to Expect, Step by Step" to understand the complete cabinet painting or sealing process.
Keep Your Kitchen Cabinets Around Longer
If you hire reliable Raleigh painters to coat your cabinets, you won’t want to jeopardize their hard work. After all, your painted kitchen cabinets go a long way toward modernizing and beautifying your interior. The experts at Anderson Painting are here to help you paint and protect your kitchen cabinets so you can enjoy them for a long time to come. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com! You can also request a free estimate here.
