How to Restore Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding and Varnishing

Begin by giving your cabinets a good scrub with some soapy water. Make sure to rinse the surfaces well. While you don’t need to clean the cabinet surfaces, don’t use any polish at this stage, as the extra oil will make the restoration process take longer. One 16-ounce can of wood finish will cover about 250 square feet of woodwork, but manufacturers recommend adding two coats for best results. Make sure that you have enough materials to cover the surface area of your cabinet facings, visible framing, and sides before you begin. Waiting too long between coats can cause an uneven appearance if you stop partway through a surface, so it’s best to have your tools and materials ready to go.

Spread out your newspaper, cardboard, or drop cloth out over exposed surfaces underneath the cabinetry or anywhere the refinishing oil could drip or smear. Make sure to cover any finished woodwork that you don’t intend to restore as well to prevent an accidental refinishing project.

If there are drawer pulls and handles on your cabinets, you should remove them to avoid damaging the finish or staining them. To keep them from getting lost, you can stash the cabinet hardware in a labeled bag or box for safekeeping. This step will make it easier to locate each piece of hardware once you’re ready to reinstall.

Put on your protective gloves and pour wood refinishing oil onto a rag and wipe it onto the surface of your cabinets. Repeat this step until you have covered every visible area of the cabinets, making sure to get into the nooks and crannies of each cabinet.

Allow the refinishing oil to set for about 30 minutes, but don’t leave it for more than an hour. This step allows the oil to penetrate the existing finish and seep into the wood grain. If you leave it too long, it can dry out too much, making it more difficult to wipe away the excess when it’s time.

Use a clean rag to wipe away excess oil to prevent build-up. You might need to scrub a little bit to get all of the extra oil. Don’t miss spots in corners or behind the facings to achieve an even, polished look.

Depending on how the first pass goes, you might need to do a second coat. Wait for about 30 minutes after you wipe away the excess and then look to see how even your finish looks. If you want to create a richer, darker look, you can apply a second coat of wood refinishing oil.

Once you’ve waited the requisite 30 minutes, apply a smooth, light layer of wood wax to the cabinets. This step will help bring out the shine of the finish even more. The wax can help cover over any flaws in the finish and condition the wood.

Spray some orange oil onto a clean rag and apply it to the cabinets. This material is a good way to add protection into cabinet cracks and corners where wax might not be easily applied, but it will also help protect the wood from damage from moisture.