Should I use a TSP when prepping my formica countertops for painting?

Painting Formica countertops requires extensive preparation to ensure they are finished correctly. You have to have the right sander, some high-grit count paper (150) and some TSP-based cleaner ready to go. Once you have the materials, sand the countertop with the sander and high-grit sandpaper. This will make lots of dust, so aside from having a good vacuum to catch the dust, you will also want to ensure you have a detergent with tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). This is the key to making your Formica top look great as the TSP-based cleaner will remove all the dirt and leave a surface that will take a nice high-satin-finish paint and sealer.