Take an orbital sander to cabinet surfaces you plan on painting, and sand them down until they are no longer shiny. Wipe the dust off with tack cloth. Clean the cabinet surfaces with TSP (or a TSP substitute) a heavy-duty cleaner that can be found in any home improvement store, which removes thick layers of grease, dirt and grime. Repeat the TSP cleaning process until the cabinet finish is dull, then wipe the surfaces down with water to remove any remaining traces of TSP. [4] X Research source
Use any stain blocking and sealing primer that you purchase from a home improvement store. Choose a color as close to your paint color as possible. Apply the primer with a roller on long, wide surfaces, and with a brush for the areas that can’t be covered with a roller. Allow the primer to dry according to manufacturer’s instructions. Paint a second coat before painting cabinets if the first primer coat didn’t fully cover the cabinet surfaces.
