How to Save Big Money by Touching Up Damaged Kitchen Appliances
There is a much less expensive and even potentially easier way to spruce up a kitchen populated by appliances with dents, dings, bruises and the little signs of a history that has been all but forgotten than going out and buying brand new replacements. Of course, the choice will depend entirely upon the level of damage to your appliances that you consider acceptable. Not to mention that investing in brand new appliances can do wonders for your skyrocketing bills.
When your stove, range, refrigerator and various and sundry other appliances in the kitchen are just a little embarrassing in their appearance, but still work just fine, you can do an quick retouching to take care of aesthetics. By the time you finish, even if you are only slightly less skilled than a Kardashian at such things, the kitchen will look so much better that you will kick yourself. Why? Because now you’ll have to upgrade the rest of the kitchen to keep up with the look of your hardware.
Start with good old sandpaper. If you have a cat who is notably less feline in character than most, grab it and use that sandpapery tongue. Failing the cat approach, take out a small piece of sandpaper and away at the damaged areas. Best results are accomplished with fine-grit sandpaper. The key is to be careful enough with your aim and pressure that you accomplish the job of removing any signs of rust while evening out smaller nicks.
Once the area has been appropriately sanded, moisten a spare rag with a little helping of paint thinner. Rub the rag over the area and then give it enough time to dry. Giving the area you have sanded and applied paint thinner to is another key. Don’t do a good enough job here and you might as well avoid the rest of the job because it is going to wind up looking like something you might expect to see in the house of a guy named Bubba.
I should mention that you need to head to the hardware store or the Home Depot or even Wal-Mart to pick up some appliance touch-up paint. You will know you’ve chosen the correct paint when you find a bottle equipped with applicator rush. If you can’t locate this specific item, get the touch-up paint that most closely approximates the color, shade and hue of your appliances and invest in a paintbrush or two or three with a fine point.
Ready for another key component to touching up your kitchen appliances? Yeah, I know I said it would be easy and it is, but you still have to hit those key points or else your effort will be for naught. Here’s the key: make sure the paint you choose is not subject to peeling at high temperatures. Do the research or ask anyone in the vicinity of the paint who looks like they may possess such knowledge. Do not automatically assume that one of the sales associates in a larger home store knows more about the items sold in his department than a customer. As for touching up appliances that don’t get hot, you’re pretty much free and clear.
Apply the paint to the sanded, thinned and thoroughly dry damaged area on the appliances. Do not use any appliance that must be actively turned on to operate during the period in which the paint is drying. You can check the paint if you absolutely must use the appliance, but a much better idea is to carve out a 24 hour Do Not Use zone so that you can be sure the paint has dried. Check carefully for minute nicks and chips and fix these simply by applying a delicate extra layer of paint.
Voila! A nearly brand new looking kitchen appliance for less than 1% of the cost of buying a replacement.
