You’ll wonder why everyone doesn’t do this themselves.
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Gloves
Sponge
Clean rags
Screwdriver
SUPPLIES
Wood refinishing oil
Wood wax and conditioner
Orange wood oil
Newspaper, cardboard, or a drop cloth
When the finish on your cabinets starts to get dull, it can make your kitchen look drab. But refinishing requires a lot of time for sanding and varnishing, making it a big undertaking.
Instead, let us show you how to restore kitchen cabinets without sanding and varnishing. Everyone loves to see wood grain shine through, giving their space a welcoming glow, but doing a full refinishing job on cabinets is time-consuming, not to mention expensive. If you want to improve the look of your wood cabinets without the hassle involved in a full refinishing job, here’s what you need to know.
Preparing to Restore Kitchen Cabinets
One 16-ounce can of wood finish will cover about 250 square feet of woodwork, but the manufacturer recommends 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 part way through a surface, so it’s best to have your tools and materials ready to go.
Prep the Room
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.
Protect the Floor and Counters
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.
Apply Your Refinishing Oil
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.
Wait 30 Minutes
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.
Wipe Away Excess Refinishing Oil
Photo: leungchopan / Adobe Stock
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.
Repeat for a Second Coat
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.
Apply Wax
Photo: Tanya Rozhnovskaya / Adobe Stock
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.
Apply Orange Wood Oil
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.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Restoring your kitchen cabinets without sanding and varnishing is a pretty simple DIY project that will cost between $50 and $100 for supplies. Although doing the job yourself will save you some money, having a local cabinet refacing pro tackle the task will likely make it easier to refinish again in the future. Plus, you can ensure high-quality results that will make your cabinetry last for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes. You should use this product in a well-ventilated area because the fumes can be harmful. In addition, the product is poisonous if swallowed, so keep it out of reach of children. Wood finishing products that are oil based can cause irritation to your skin, so you should always wear gloves when handling it.
If you spill wood refinishing oil, wipe up the liquid quickly without spreading the stain and then use soap and water or a stain remover to get rid of the spot. Since the product is oil based, using a detergent like dish soap or a thinner like mineral spirits will help take out the stain. You may need to repeat this process multiple times to remove the stain.
No. You should dispose of all oil-based finishing products through a local hazardous waste program. Not only can oil-based finishes be hazardous for the environment if disposed of in the sink, but they can cause clogs in your pipes and stop up your drains. Most municipal garbage or waste disposal companies have a specific location or pick-up schedule for hazardous materials, so that’s your best bet to get rid of excess finishing products.
No. Once you apply refinishing oil, it will continue to seep into the wood, making it difficult or impossible to refinish over top of it. Since the product contains an oil that’s meant to penetrate existing finishes, almost anything you put on top of it will bring the previous layer of stain with it. If you plan to refinish your cabinets more than once, it’s a good idea to go with the traditional method of sanding before applying a new finish to the surface.
Becca Lewis is a content writer specializing in DIY, woodworking, and the outdoors. Her passion is giving people the inspiration and information they need to confidently tackle home projects. Her work can also be found on Lifehacker where she writes about methods to make all your home improvement projects simpler, cheaper, and more fun.
Becca Lewis is a content writer specializing in DIY, woodworking, and the outdoors. Her passion is giving people the inspiration and information they need to confidently tackle home projects. Her work can also be found on Lifehacker where she writes about methods to make all your home improvement projects simpler, cheaper, and more fun.
The homeowners guide to Cabinet Refacing and Refinishing
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