I hear you on the prep work—old cabinets are stubborn. I’ve run into the same issue with paint chipping, even after sanding and priming. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just the decades of grime and oil that never fully come out, no matter how much you clean. Hardware swaps are a game changer though, totally agree there. As for peel-and-stick wallpaper, humidity is a killer in older homes. I’ve had better luck with shelf liner that’s a bit thicker, but even then, it’s hit or miss. Ever tried sealing the inside of the drawers first? Not sure it’s worth the hassle unless you’re really committed to the look.
You nailed it about the grime—sometimes no amount of TSP or elbow grease gets those old cabinets truly clean. I’ve had projects where even after a full sand and prime, the paint just didn’t want to stick long-term. At a certain point, you have to weigh your time versus just replacing the doors or fronts. Hardware swaps are definitely the best bang for your buck, though. As for sealing drawers, I’ve tried it with polycrylic... honestly, unless you’re flipping a high-end place, it’s probably overkill. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially if you’re not planning to stay forever.
At a certain point, you have to weigh your time versus just replacing the doors or fronts.
Couldn’t agree more—sometimes you hit that wall where no amount of scrubbing or sanding is gonna save those old cabinet faces. I’ve tried every trick in the book, but if the paint keeps peeling, it’s just not worth the headache. Swapping out hardware is a lifesaver, though. And yeah, sealing drawers with polycrylic? Unless you’re aiming for “museum quality,” it’s usually more hassle than it’s worth. Good enough really does win the day sometimes.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had pretty good luck salvaging old cabinet faces—at least if they’re solid wood and not MDF. Last year, I thought for sure ours were a lost cause (paint chipping, weird stains, the works). But after a weekend with a heat gun and some elbow grease, they cleaned up way better than I expected. I did end up sealing the drawers with polycrylic, mostly because I had some left over from another project, and it’s held up surprisingly well.
Swapping hardware is definitely the quickest win, but sometimes a little extra effort on the fronts can stretch the budget further. Not saying it’s always worth it—if there’s water damage or warping, yeah, just replace ’em. But if it’s just cosmetic stuff, I’d at least try a deep clean and refinish before dropping cash on new doors. Sometimes “good enough” is all you need, but every now and then you get lucky and it turns out better than expected.
Totally agree—sometimes the “lost cause” cabinets just need a little TLC. I did something similar with ours, and honestly, I was shocked at how much better they looked after a deep clean and some new pulls. It’s wild how much grime accumulates over the years... The only time I regretted not replacing was when I realized one of the doors was actually warped beyond saving, but for the rest, a bit of sanding and paint made a world of difference. Sometimes it’s just about working with what you’ve got instead of blowing the budget.
