Heat, water, grease, and residue can take a toll on your cabinets and their hardware. If your kitchen cabinets are looking less than fabulous, consider giving them a facelift. There are simple home remedies you can do to get your kitchen cabinets looking as good as new without having to invest in brand new cabinets.
Refinishing your cabinets is a similar process to refinishing furniture. Here’s how:
- Empty the cabinets completely. Work with a clean slate by emptying all of the items from your cabinets.
- Lay plenty of drop cloths. Cover your countertops, appliances, and floors to protect your kitchen, as this can be a messy process.
- Remove cabinet doors and hardware. Most shelves simply lift off of the pegs, but some must be unscrewed or pried off of supports. Flat front doors and drawers are easy to remove. If yours put up a fight, buy unfinished doors and drawers and stain them yourself.
- Clean the cabinets thoroughly. Any grease on the cabinets will interfere with refinishing. Trisodium phosphate removes heavy grease deposits and can even dull the paint so it is ready to be primed. Clean the cabinet hardware by soaking it in a solution to give your cabinets a polished, finished look.
- Sand the sides and front surfaces of the cabinets and drawers. Sand all areas of the cabinets and draws that you would like to cover with a new finish. Wipe with a damp cloth when finished.
- Stain cabinets with a paintbrush or rag. Stain the inside edges and openings first. Wipe away any excess stain and allow it to dry. Coat the outside face when the insides are dry. Always apply in the same direction. Once dry, apply a second coat and repeat the process. If you decide to paint, apply primer first in two layers before applying two layers of paint.
If you are not an experienced refinisher, start with a small, inconspicuous space before tackling the entire cabinet. Keep in mind this is a labor-intensive process. If you’re not up to the challenge, hire an expert to help you stain and resurface your cabinetry.