How to Restore Kitchen Cabinets & Drawers

Kitchens can be expensive rooms to redecorate. New cabinets not only eat up a lot of your budget, but also make a big difference in how up-to-date the room appears. When you're on a tight budget, replacing cabinets is rarely an option. Instead, consider restoring the cabinets you already have. You can do this in three easy ways: Use a product that cleans and replenishes wood cabinetry, paint your cabinets or re-stain your kitchen cabinets.

Things You'll Need

• Ammonia
• Water
• Sponge
• Touch of Oranges wood cleaner (optional)
• Sandpaper, 100- to 120-grit (optional)
• Tack cloth (optional)
• Vinyl Spackle (optional)
• Paint (optional)
• Airless sprayer (optional)
• Stain (optional)
• Paint brush (optional)
• New hardware (optional)

Instructions

Prepping

1. Remove all hinges and knobs or pulls by unscrewing them. Store them in a plastic freezer bag for safekeeping. If you plan on buying new hinges, knobs or pulls, take the old hardware to the store with you to ensure the holes in the new hardware will line up properly with the holes already drilled in your cabinets and drawers.

2. Wash the cabinets and drawers with a solution of water and ammonia. Wipe down with a damp sponge. Allow to dry.

3. Apply a product like Touch of Oranges wood cleaner to restore the current finish. It will help restore the luster of your original stained finish.

Repaint

1. Sand all exposed surfaces of the cabinetry with 100- or 120-grit sandpaper. There's no need to remove all the paint; you just need to "rough up" the surface so a new coat of paint or stain will stick to the cabinetry.

2. Fill in any holes, nicks or scratches with vinyl Spackle. Once dry, lightly sand with 100- or 120-grit sandpaper.

3. Vacuum the cabinets with your machine's upholstery attachment, and then wipe them down with a tack cloth.

4. Brush on a base coat of paint.

5. Apply at least two coats of paint to the cabinets and drawers. For a professional look, rent an airless sprayer to apply the paint.

6. Sand the surface again and remove any dust and grit with a vacuum and tack cloth.

7. Apply an enamel top coat. Allow the cabinets to dry for at least two days before reattaching doors, drawers or hardware.

Re-stain

1. Strip the current stain off every visible surface of the cabinets and drawers, according to the manufacturer's directions.

2. Apply a new stain using a paint brush.

3. "Paint" on a protective top coat.

4. Allow the cabinets to dry for at least two days before replacing doors and drawers and applying hardware.

Tips & Warnings

• Whenever using stripper, paint or stain, make sure the room is properly ventilated. It may also help to use a fan in the room and wear a mask.

References

• Restoring Kitchen Cabinets
• Refinishing Wood Kitchen Cabinets
• Kitchen Cabinet Repainting