Cabinetscoating debunks no-sanding trick

Cabinet paint is one of those DIY rabbit holes where the internet makes everything look easier than it is. A quick scroll will tell you that you can skip sanding, skip primer, maybe even skip taking the doors off. But this weekend, Cabinetscoating cut straight through that pitch and argued that the “no-sanding” trick is exactly how people end up with peeling corners, blotchy coverage, and cabinets that look tired again way too fast. The broader point lands because the shortcut really is everywhere right now — and it keeps colliding with how cabinet finishes actually work. ### Why do cabinets fight paint so much? Cabinets are not drywall. Most are coated with a smooth factory finish, old enamel, laminate, or some kind of sealed surface that resists moisture and wear — which also means it resists new paint. That slick finish gives paint very little “tooth” to grab onto, so if you paint straight over it, the new coat can sit on top instead of bonding in. Benjamin Moore’s cabinet guidance says most cabinet finishes are too smooth or glossy to repaint without roughing them up first. (benjaminmoore.com) ### So is “no sanding” totally fake? Not exactly — but the catch is that “no sanding” usually does not mean “no prep.” Even brands that sell systems for easier cabinet makeovers still build the process around serious surface prep. Rust-Oleum’s cabinet materials tell users to clean thoroughly, degloss thoroughly, and in some versions prime before paint; its trim-and-cabinet paint guidance says to degrease and prime to improve adhesion. Basically, the marketing promise is less dust, not zero effort. (benjaminmoore.com) ### Why are liquid deglossers so controversial? A deglosser can dull a finish chemically, and that can help. But it is not magic, and it is easy to under-apply. Rust-Oleum’s own technical sheet says to be “thorough” and “heavy” when scrubbing cabinets with deglosser for maximum adhesion. That tells you the weak point right away — if the chemical prep is rushed, uneven, or wiped over grease that was never fully removed, the bond can fail in the exact places cabinets get touched most. (rustoleum.com) ### What do paint makers want you to do instead? They keep coming back to bonding primer. Sherwin-Williams sells a bonding primer specifically for hard-to-paint surfaces like laminates, ceramic, glass, and wood. Benjamin Moore’s Stix primer is pitched for glossy, hard-to-coat surfaces, and even its technical sheet says proper prep still improves adhesion. Rust-Oleum’s BONDZ also calls out laminated Formica cabinets and glossy enamels as surfaces where maximum-adhesion primer is useful. In plain English — if the surface is slick, the safe move is still prep plus primer, not hope. (rustoleum.com) ### Does that mean you always need full sanding? No. That is the part social video often flattens. You may not need to strip cabinets down or create clouds of dust. Light scuff-sanding is different from aggressive sanding, and manufacturers often describe it as just enough abrasion to give primer something to hold. So the real debate is not sanding versus no sanding — it is whether you are replacing that missing grip with an equally reliable prep system. (sherwin-williams.com) ### Why is this blowing up now? Because cabinet makeovers are perfect social content. They are cheap compared with a remodel, visually dramatic, and easy to package as a weekend transformation. TikTok is full of creators and paint brands promising cabinet updates with no sanding, no priming, or both. That makes a debunk-style warning travel fast too, especially in spring when people start repainting kitchens and bathrooms again. (benjaminmoore.com) ### What should a normal person take from this? Treat “no sanding” as a risk label, not a free pass. If your cabinets are greasy, glossy, chipped, laminate, or heavily handled, the durable route is still deep cleaning, some abrasion or chemical deglossing, and a real bonding primer before the finish coats. The bottom line is simple — the viral shortcut is selling convenience, but the finish that lasts is still built in the prep. (benjaminmoore.com) (tiktok.com)