Totally get where you’re coming from—kitchen stuff is a different beast. I’m all for saving a buck, but I learned the hard way that skipping degreasing before painting cabinets is a recipe for disaster. That said, I’ll admit I don’t always go full prep mode on closet shelves or the laundry room. Sometimes “good enough” really is...well, good enough, especially if it’s not a high-traffic spot. But yeah, kitchen grease? That stuff’s like glitter—shows up everywhere and never leaves.
But yeah, kitchen grease? That stuff’s like glitter—shows up everywhere and never leaves.
That’s a vivid way to put it, and honestly, it checks out. I’m just starting to tackle some cabinet painting myself, and the prep is already more work than I expected. Out of curiosity, have you found any shortcuts that actually work in lower-traffic areas, or is it always a gamble? I keep wondering if there’s a “minimum viable prep” that doesn’t come back to bite you later.
Honestly, I keep hearing about people skipping steps in low-traffic spots, but I’m not convinced it’s worth the risk. I tried just a light sanding and a quick wipe-down in my laundry room cabinets—figured it wouldn’t matter much since they barely get touched. Six months later, I’m already seeing chips where the paint didn’t stick. Super annoying.
Maybe you can get away with less prep if you’re using a really good bonding primer, but even then, any leftover grease or residue just seems to mess things up. I guess if you’re okay with touch-ups down the line, it might be fine, but I’d rather just do the annoying cleaning and sanding up front. It’s tedious, but at least you know the paint will actually last.
I hear you on the prep work. I’ve tried to cut corners before, thinking “eh, it’s just a closet door” or “nobody’s going to see this baseboard behind the couch.” Every single time, I end up regretting it. Paint starts peeling, or you get that weird texture where dust or old grease was left behind. Once, I skipped degreasing the kitchen trim and the paint literally bubbled up after a few weeks—looked like a science experiment gone wrong.
Honestly, I think the only time I’d risk skipping steps is if I knew for sure I’d be replacing the thing in a year or two anyway. Otherwise, it’s just not worth having to redo it. The old-timers who owned my place before me were sticklers for prep, and some of their paint jobs are still holding up 30+ years later. Makes you think... maybe they were onto something with all that elbow grease.
Once, I skipped degreasing the kitchen trim and the paint literally bubbled up after a few weeks—looked like a science experiment gone wrong.
Been there. I used to think primer was optional for “low-traffic” spots, but every time I skip it, I end up cursing myself later. It’s wild how much difference a little sanding and cleaning makes, especially with older woodwork that’s seen decades of fingerprints and who-knows-what. The bubbling thing is the worst—sometimes you don’t even notice until months later, and by then it’s a whole project to fix.
I get the temptation to cut corners on stuff that’s hidden or temporary, but honestly, even then, it bugs me if I know it’s not done right. Maybe that’s just my own hangup. Those old-school paint jobs really do last forever though... I’ve pulled off baseboards from the 70s and the paint is still stuck on like glue. Makes me respect all that prep work a lot more than I did when I first started out.