This is the most important lesson in the course, and it takes ten minutes. Skipping sanding is fine. Skipping cleaning is not.
Why cleaning matters more than sanding
Paint fails for one main reason: it's applied over grease, polish, dust or grime. All-in-one chalk paint grips clean surfaces beautifully — so your job is simply to make the surface clean.
The prep, step by step
- 1Remove drawers, doors and hardware with a screwdriver.
- 2Wipe the whole piece with a damp cloth and a little degreaser or sugar soap.
- 3Pay extra attention to handles, arms and anywhere hands touch — that's where grease builds up.
- 4Let it dry completely before you paint.
The one exception
On very glossy or slick surfaces — high-gloss laminate, shiny varnished tops — a quick once-over with a fine sanding sponge adds extra grip. It's optional and takes two minutes; you're scuffing, not stripping.
Tape for crisp lines
If you're keeping part of a piece unpainted (like a wood top), run painter's tape along the edge for a clean line. Peel it off while the last coat is still slightly wet for the sharpest result.
