Rant: Should you really paint kitchen cabinets without sanding first?

Drew Lee · 2026-07-06T21:35:06.51092+00:00

My buddy Tom said he used a liquid deglosser on his oak cabinets last weekend, skipped the sanding, and they look great. I swear by at least 220-grit sanding before primer, so which side is cutting corners and which is actually fine?

paul2863mo ago

Back @robinson.hannah on this one - deglosser is basically liquid sandpaper if you prep right. A good clean with TSP first, apply the deglosser, and you're usually fine for most painted finishes. Skip the 220 grit and save your elbow grease, just make sure you're using a quality primer and it'll bond better than you think.

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laura_allen3mo ago

Tom's deglosser actually convinced me to try skipping sanding on my own cabinets.

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robinson.hannah3mo ago

Look, how long did Tom say that deglosser finish actually lasted?

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