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Yes, you can refinish cabinets without wax or orange oil. The refinishing product will work regardless of wax and oil coats, but it might not shine as much. Adding a coat of penetrating oil will bring out the grain in the wood, and the wax will help prevent wear. Also, the protective qualities of wax and oil for hardwood make it a good idea to incorporate into the restoration process.

Liquid sandpaper is a solvent used to soften existing layers of paint and make them porous enough that you can effectively apply a new coat of paint. You rub the liquid sandpaper on, wait for it to work, and wipe it off—no literal sanding is involved. Liquid sandpaper can save time and is helpful if parts of the cabinet are hard to reach with standard sandpaper. However, like paint stripper, liquid sandpaper creates dangerous fumes and must be used with care indoors. And unlike sanding, it can’t fix any scratches or dings in your cabinets.

Refinishing cabinets requires a significant commitment, so even a professional will take between 40 and 120 hours on average to complete a cabinet refinishing project. In most cases, you’re looking at a week or more of work, although this depends on the number of cabinets you have and how many laborers will be working on the project. Whether you’re refinishing cabinets in your kitchen, bathroom, or office, you should plan on the room being at least partially out of commission for one to two weeks. DIY refinishing will usually take a month or two, depending on your expediency.

The vinyl finish on thermofoil cabinets makes them durable and scratch-resistant, especially compared to painted cabinets. However, if they do get deep scratches, it can be challenging to fix, and you may be unable to repair them.