How to Stain Kitchen Cabinets
Staining kitchen cabinets is a smart way to change the look of your kitchen. It is affordable, costing less than painting. It can be done in a day and gives your kitchen a dramatic makeover. Kitchen cabinets can be stained any color desired, regardless of the initial hue. Staining changes the color of cabinets while keeping the natural wood look.
Items Needed:
- Screwdriver
- Electric sander
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrush or rag
- Washcloths
- Wood stain
- Dishwashing detergent
- Gloves
- Disposable plastic sheeting
- Remove the screws holding the cabinet door on. Pull the doors off the frame of the cabinet. Remove any hardware, including hinges and handles. Remove any hardware from the frame of the cabinet.
- Lay out plastic sheeting to protect the work area. Put the doors on the plastic.
- Wash the cabinets and doors to remove dirt, grease and debris. Use a clean washcloth dipped in a mixture of water and mild dishwashing detergent.
- Sand the cabinet frames and doors using an electric hand sander. Begin by using a medium-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface. This helps the stain to stick better and get into the pores of the wood.
- Use a fine-grit sandpaper to even out the surface of the frame and doors. This smooths the surface while keeping it rough.
- Look for any corners or crevices that the electric sander could not reach. Sand these spots by hand using the fine-grit sandpaper.
- Wipe away any dust with a clean, dry rag.
- Begin applying the stain directly to the sanded wood. Use a chisel-edge paintbrush. You can also use an old T-shirt or a rag to rub on the stain. This works well to work the stain down into the wood.
- Rub the stain on all areas of the cabinet doors and frame, stroking in the direction of the grain. Remember to get the corners of the doors and behind the cabinets.
- Smooth out any drips with a rag. Rub on more stain if needed to make an even layer.
- Allow to dry completely. Refer to the stain can for exact drying times. You can use a fan pointed at the cabinets to speed up the process.
- Apply a protective polyurethane coat, which is sold alongside the wood stain. Apply the protective coat using the same method as the wood stain. Allow to dry before reattaching the cabinet doors.