Your Guide to DIY Appliance Painting

If your kitchen or laundry room need a refresh, but all new appliances aren’t in the budget, why not get a bit creative? You can paint your appliances yourself to completely change the look and feel of a room. We’re talking completely new paint jobs, too! Not just cleaning up chips and scratches. If this sort of project interests you, check out our guide to painting your appliances. We’re covering basic touch ups and full spray paint jobs below.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Picking The Right Paint For The Job

You can’t use just any old paint on your appliances and expect perfect results. Whether you’re just doing some touch-ups or looking to revive an outdated appliance, the color and type of paint you choose is of vital importance. So, what do you use?

• For refrigerators, washers, dryers, and other appliances that don’t get too hot, self-priming appliance epoxy should do the trick. Appliance epoxy is an enamel paint that dries to a durable, scuff-resistant finish. Enamel epoxy is available in both spray and traditional paint cans, but usually cannot be tinted without interfering with the integrity of the paint.
• Ranges, toasters, microwave ovens, and other appliances that heat up require special paint with a heat-resistant finish, usually called high heat paint (or heat-resistant paint). Using anything else is a surefire way to ruin your paint job, as well as posing a serious safety hazard in your home.
• If you’re just touching up nicks, chips, or scuffs in an appliance’s surface, it’s a good idea to go with a touch-up paint made by your appliance manufacturer. With an OEM product, you’re guaranteeing yourself a high-quality paint that’s an exact color match for your appliance.
• If you’re looking to paint an interior component, research that part before you buy and apply anything. Some components, like dish racks, require special moisture-resistant paint to fix up chipped enamel coating, while others, like oven interiors and some washer tubs, generally can’t be effectively repainted and will need to be replaced if the paint is chipped or the interior is rusting.
• Want to get a little wild with the color on your fridge? Make sure you prep and prime properly, then use a few coats of standard enamel spray paint and finish it off with a clear enamel gloss. You can also use chalkboard paints on appliances like refrigerators with proper prep. Keep in mind that this shouldn’t be done on heat-producing appliances like ranges!

AppliancePartsPros.com has appliance paints and touch-up kits from all the most popular appliance manufacturing brands. Head to our storefront and type paints into our search bar, or go directly to categories like refrigerator paints or our range and cooktop paints to more easily track down what you need!

Spray Paint Or Paint Brush?

For the most part, it’s up to personal preference. You can’t tint appliance epoxy and using a brush or roller risks leaving behind streaks, so outside of potential cost savings, there’s no real benefit to opting for a traditional paint can. Using spray paint will give you an even coating, and, done right, you’re less likely to leave behind streaks. If you do need to use paint from a can instead of spray paint, we suggest using a roller if you’re covering a large surface and saving the brushes for smaller areas and detail work.

Do I Need A Primer To Paint My Appliances?

The short answer is, it depends on the paint you’re using. Many appliance paints are self-priming, meaning you can skip the primer. Check into the specific paint you want to use, and if you need a primer, make sure you purchase one that adheres to metal or plastic – whichever material you will be painting.

How To Prep Your Workspace And Appliances For Painting

Painting an appliance is a big project that will take multiple days. It’s not a task to jump into unprepared. Even if you’re only doing some touch-ups, follow these steps to ensure your safety and the final quality of your paint job.

1. Set aside adequate time. Two or three days is a long time to be without certain appliances. Make sure you’ve got a way to safely store food while your fridge dries, for example.
2. Safety first! Make sure you have a well-ventilated workspace. Open windows while you work and set up a fan if you need to. Also, wear a mask and safety goggles while you’re painting.
3. Protect your workspace, particularly if you’re doing a full appliance repaint, by laying down dropcloth, plastic sheets, newspaper, or other protective cloth on the floor and any surrounding cabinets or tables.
4. Unplug your appliance! Don’t perform any work or maintenance on an appliance that is still receiving power.
5. Start with a thorough cleaning. You can’t effectively sand or paint an appliance that’s covered in grime, grease, or oil, so a thorough cleaning is necessary. Want some help with that? Check out some of our great tips and tricks to keep your appliances clean. Once you’ve cleaned it, allow the appliance to dry completely before moving on to the next steps.
6. Sand the area down. Time for some elbow grease! You’ll want to sand the gloss off of the surface you’ll be painting. Use a medium grit sandpaper to sand the surface down a bit and prep it to better hold your new layer of paint. You’re shooting for a matte feel.
   1. If you’re looking to cover up rust, make sure you completely sand away the rust before moving on.
   2. If you’re only touching up a slight chip or ding, you don’t need to do much sanding and may be able to skip this step entirely.
7. Wipe down the surface with a tack rag or damp microfiber cloth. This will get rid of particles left behind by sanding.
8. Remove any detachable accessories or components from the part of the appliance that you’re painting. Most appliances have removable handles, knobs, and other accessories. For non-removable parts like user interface displays, logos, and buttons, make sure these parts are securely masked with painter’s tape and paper if needed.
   1. Are you painting your refrigerator or another appliance with a seal around the door? Make sure you tape up the door gasket to protect it from damage that could weaken the seal.

How To Paint Your Appliances

Is your appliance cleaned and prepped? Does your workspace have adequate ventilation? Alright, next up, we’ll review how to paint your appliances! Keep in mind that you’ll want to allow 24 hours for the appliance to dry completely – sometimes longer, if you’re using a sealer – and you shouldn’t use your appliances before that 24 hour drying period has passed.

Touching Up Scratches and Scuffs

1. Shake your paint thoroughly before use to ensure the contents are well combined.
2. Starting with a clean, lightly sanded, and dried surface, apply one layer of touch-up paint to the damaged spot. Make sure your paint layer is smooth, without any significant drops left behind.
3. Allow this initial layer to dry, around 4 to 6 hours should do it. Once you’ve let it dry, test it out by touching the area with your finger. If the surface is sticky, then the paint isn’t dry yet – let it go a bit longer.
4. Once the paint is completely dry, have a look at the work. You may need to apply another layer. If so, repeat the steps outlined above.
5. If you’re satisfied with the paint’s coverage, you’re basically done. Remember that you shouldn’t use your appliance again, however, until that paint has dried completely – around 24 hours, usually.

How To Fully Paint An Appliance With Spray Paints

1. Start with a double-check. Does the spray paint you’re using require a primer? If you need a primer, start with that can, and then swap to your tinted paint for subsequent layers.
2. Thoroughly shake the can before use – about 60 seconds.
3. Time to paint. Do your best to hold the can about 10 to 12 inches away from the surface you’re painting as you work, and move continuously to avoid an uneven coat or dripping. Don’t go back over any paint you’ve already done – just focus on getting that first layer complete.
4. Allow your first layer to dry. Depending on the appliance, the ventilation in your workplace, and the climate where you live, drying time can vary. Expect to wait a minimum of four to six hours.
5. Once the first layer is dry, it’s time to apply a second layer. Repeat the steps above – thoroughly shake, then apply a full even layer, holding the can 10 to 12 inches from the surface of the appliance as you work.
6. Allow this second layer to dry completely. If you notice any drips or heavy spots, these will need to be sanded down with fine grit sandpaper, and another layer applied.
7. Repeat steps five and six until you have achieved the coverage you want on your appliance. Typically, two or three coats of the color you want will be enough, but sometimes four or five may be necessary. If you are using a glossy clear top coating, apply that once you are happy with the color.
8. Allow 24 hours for the appliance to dry completely before removing the masking tape, replacing the hardware, and plugging the appliance back in.

Extra Notes About Painting Appliances

Before we send you off on your next big DIY appliance project, we’ve got a few tips for you:

• The number of coats you need will vary. There’s no hard and fast rule for how many layers of paint you’ll need. For very small jobs, one layer may be enough, but for bigger projects, you’ll almost certainly need two or three.
• Drying time will depend on where you’re working. Climate and ventilation play a big part in how quickly your paint job dries. Use our timing predictions as guidelines and not strict rules.
• Painting shouldn’t affect the magnetism of your refrigerator, but be sure to read the label on any paint you plan on using before applying it.

Wrapping Up

If you liked this guide, why not check out all the other ways AppliancePartsPros.com can help you out around the house? We’ve got tips, tutorials, and genuine OEM replacement parts to help you customize, fix, and maintain all major brands of home appliances, and if you have questions you can’t find the answers to online, give our helpful, knowledgeable staff a call at 1-877-477-7278 – they’re happy to lend a hand!