How to Waterproof your Kitchen Soap Tray

Hi there! So, the big question is, how do you waterproof your kitchen soap tray? And the answer is simple. You need to apply Polycrylic. This will not only help keep it resistant to scratches, but if you have any soap in your kitchen tray, it will help resist water damage. As you might be able to guess, I learned the hard way.

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Waterproofing your Kitchen Soap Tray

Recently I bought a new farmhouse tray to organize my kitchen essentials. When I finally found the type of tray that I was envisioning for my kitchen, I made the impulse buy without giving it a second thought. When the package came in, and I opened it, right away I knew that the wood was not water resistant.

At that moment, I decided I would need to figure out a way to waterproof it. In the meantime, I decided I’d “be careful” and set it up anyway because I was excited to see it in my kitchen. I told my husband my plan to waterproof it but, in the meantime, to be careful. That same night I discovered soap residue on the tray… I should have known. But to make it worse, I kept it as is and said we’d have to be mindful to take the soap dispenser out whenever we were washing the dishes.

Well, that didn’t work. The next day when I did dishes, I took the soap dispenser out, but because it was not far enough away from the oil tray, water still managed to splash and left even more water damage than the night prior. At that moment, I decided I needed to waterproof it ASAP before it got any worse.

Gather the Supplies.

Here are the supplies that I used: matte Polycrylic (be sure to use the “matte” version), painter’s tape, a sponge or brush, and either an exacto knife/kitchen knife/or painting spatula (which is what I used).

In case you are wondering, there are other types of products that you can use in place of Polycrylic. I chose to go in this direction because I’ve used it before, so I knew what to expect. In addition, it was readily available and water-based, so clean-up was relatively easy.

Use Painters Tape Around the Metal Frame of your Kitchen Oil Tray

Take the painter’s tape and tape it around the metal frame of your kitchen soap tray. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just make sure that the metal is completely covered and sealed with the painter’s tape.

Cut the Excess Painters Tape off the Metal Frame

Once you have the tape secured around the frame, use your nail to press around the edges. You’ll want to do it around the edge where the metal meets the wood. I’ve included an image for reference.

Once that’s complete, take the exacto knife, kitchen knife, or painting spatula and use it to cut around the edge you’ve just made. I used the painting spatula because I didn’t want to risk cutting the wood. If you use the exacto knife, just be careful that the sharp edge doesn’t completely go through and cut the wood. Once you’ve cut around the whole frame, you can remove the excess tape.

Apply the Polycrylic as Directed

Apply the Polycrylic as directed. I painted the first coat and waited 2 hours before applying the second one. I debated doing a third coat, but I tested the wood after the second coat. The water did not soak through, so that was my way of knowing that 2 coats were sufficient.

Enjoy your Kitchen Oil Tray!

Once the Polycrylic has completely dried, you can start to use it! Put your kitchen essentials or décor in your tray and enjoy!

Waterproofing your Kitchen Soap Tray

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about how to waterproof your kitchen soap tray! Please feel free to share or comment if you want to see more content like this! Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

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