If you’ve accidentally painted your cabinets with exterior paint, removing and replacing it with acrylic paint is probably the safest option. This article includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Why exterior paint is so dangerous<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Remedies if you’ve accidentally used exterior paint<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- My recommended acrylic paint kit for cabinets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What Is Wrong with Using an Exterior Paint Inside?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exterior paint can resist harsh weather and sticks to most surfaces, so it is reasonable to think that you can use it on kitchen cabinets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reason exterior paints are so resilient is that they contain powerful chemicals that help them stick to masonry and preservatives to combat sun rays and storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oil-based exterior paints will hold Volatile Organic Chemicals, such as acetone and xylene, which vaporize out of the paint as it dries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These VOCs are toxic and will cause irritations to your eyes and airways. In extreme cases, they can even cause blackouts and nerve damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same health concerns apply to varnishes, spray cans, and gloss paints. Water-based external paints can still cause health issues, but the strength of the fumes tends to be less and much safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accidentally Used Exterior Paint on Kitchen Cabinets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you use exterior paint on your kitchen cabinets by accident, you will feel the strong fumes building up in your sinuses. Your eyes will water, you will start coughing, and you may begin to feel light-headed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you feel nauseous, check the labeling on the paint tin to make sure it’s water-based. If it is oil-based paint, stop painting immediately and stand out in the fresh air for a few minutes before you pass out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to Do if You Use Exterior Paint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you have applied exterior paint to your cabinets, start by checking to see the chemical ingredients. If it is a water-based exterior paint, you may be able to resort to opening the windows for a day until the air clears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exterior paints can take a long time to deodorize, and even after a week of having the windows wide open, the smell may still linger. This odor is more of an issue for oil-based exterior paints that will have solvents and strong mold inhibitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Remove and Repair Exterior Paint on Cabinets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Removing the paint that you spent time and care applying is an upsetting business, but it may be necessary. If you have a kitchen coated with exterior paint, you may have no choice but to remove it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will mean leaving the paint to dry so that you can use the following methods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rub Down<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanding off the exterior paint is going to be messy, and you may want to take some of this work outside if you can. You can reduce the dust by starting with a scraper then moving on to an electric sander with 60-grit sandpaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not use a pressure washer, as the water will get everywhere and may destroy your cabinets. You can rinse off the cabinets after sanding to remove the dust but dry away all excess water straight after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heating<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heat guns are a handy tool for removing oil-based paints, though they will bring out the fumes in the paint. Wear a professional respirator mask, gloves, and goggles if you decide to use a heat gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On high heat and with a scraper, you should be able to race through the paint removal process. A heat gun is the least messy of the three methods and uses the least number of consumables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will still need to sand the cabinets after, to remove stubborn paint and the unavoidable burn marks it will make. Blowtorches work the fastest, but they will ignite flakes of paint, so use an electric heat gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chemicals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paint stripper relies on a powerful alkaline solution to melt paint away from the surface. A common paint stripper is lacquer thinner – a highly corrosive mixture that demands respect and caution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modern lacquer thinners have fewer VOCs, but they will still melt through thin rubber and plastics. So, wear long 5\/16-inch (8mm) nitrile gloves (or thicker), goggles, and a mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not use lacquer on plastic dipped cabinets, as it will melt everything back to the wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Best Paint for Kitchen Cabinets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You want to use paint that is easy-to-apply, looks good, and lasts. You also want paint that is low on odors and safe to use in a family home kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a> is an all-in-one kit that comes with all the materials and tools you need for sprucing up your kitchen cabinets. This kit will cover up to one hundred square feet or 40 linear feet of cabinetry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n