Clean the surface. Mild soap and water works for most projects. Remove dust, grease, and any paint that's chipping or peeling.

If your piece is glossy, slick, or laminate, scuff it with coarse sandpaper. You're not stripping the finish. You're just giving the paint something to grab.

Kitchen cabinets: use a degreaser. Grease is the number one reason paint doesn't stick.

Mix one cup at a time. It's easier to get a smooth mix in a small batch, and most small projects only need that much. You can mix a full quart or gallon at once if you know you'll use it all.

Stir until it looks like donut glaze. Too pasty is fine. Add water a little at a time until it loosens up.

Then pour in 8 oz. of any flat latex or acrylic paint, any brand, any color. Stir or shake until the powder is fully mixed in.

Notes that save you trouble

• Flat paint works best. If your paint has sheen, add more powder. You can double it.
• More powder is better than not enough. The powder is what makes your paint bond.
• Your powder lasts forever on the shelf. Mixed paint keeps too. Mix what you need.
• One small jar of Paint Transformer mixes up to one quart of paint.

Thin coats. Cross-hatch strokes. Work in small sections.

Coat one will look streaky and patchy. That's what coat one is supposed to look like.

Give each coat one to two hours to dry before the next one. That waiting time is what lets it bond. No sanding between coats.

Most pieces are done after two coats. Slick or very dark surfaces may want a third.

Sealing is what keeps your work from scuffing and chipping. Don't skip it.

If you're using BB Frösch Finishing Wax

Butter your brush and apply a thin layer over a small section. Wipe off the excess before it dries, then move to the next section. Buff until smooth. The more you buff, the more sheen you get. Add a second coat if you want more protection.

Work in small areas and don't linger. Wax cures in minutes.

If you're using polycrylic or another topcoat

Follow the instructions on that product's label for application and dry times.

Care for your brushes

Wash with Brush Conditioning Soap after every use, not dish soap. Dish soap dries bristles out.

Never let paint dry in your brush. Never soak a brush or stand it in a jar of water. Water breaks down the glue holding the bristles in.

Treated well, these brushes last years.