Hey everyone! I'm wondering if it's okay to use a paint stripper like Citri-strip on the insides of my kitchen cabinets, which are made of both MDF and solid wood. The cabinets have seen better days; the previous homeowners just slapped on a bad coat of landlord white paint, leaving them stained and looking rough. I'm preparing to move in and want to give them a refresh before doing a full remodel later. I'm thinking of using a paint stripper to remove the old paint, especially around the done-up removable shelves that I had to pull out, which pulled some paint off too. My plan is to properly prime and paint the insides after stripping. Is using a chemical stripper safe here, or would I be better off just painting over the existing stuff or using another method? Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
Definitely try to take the cabinets down if you can. It will give you a better workspace for stripping and repainting, and it'll save your kitchen from a huge mess while they’re out of commission!
You can definitely use Citri-strip if you have the energy for it! Just a heads up though, after you paint the cabinets, it can take up to 30 days for it to fully cure. So even if it feels dry, be careful not to overload it with dishes during that time!
If it were me, I’d consider just painting over the existing stuff instead of stripping it down. Stripping can turn into a hassle, and you don't want to risk damaging any MDF. But if you're set on stripping, make sure it’s a controlled process.