Cabinet Cleaning & Refinishing With a Different Color

Prepare a work area and lay a drop cloth over it. Your work area should be an open space where you can lay out all of your tools and paints.

Remove the cabinet doors, including all hinges and screws, with a power drill and set the cabinet doors over the drop cloth. Remove all the shelving, as well, if possible.

Apply degreaser to rags and wipe down the cabinets and doors. The degreaser will tear away at grease, grime, dirt and other residues that have built up on the wood over time. Continue wiping the cabinets down until they are thoroughly clean. The surfaces need to be clean or the new paint and finish will not adhere properly.

Sand down the cabinets and doors with 220-grit sandpaper. This creates smooth surfaces, which are easier for paint to adhere to. Wipe down the cabinets with a cloth after you have sanded them to remove sawdust.

Apply liquid deglosser to the cabinets with cloths. The deglosser will remove any remaining residues and help strip the original finish.

Paint or stain your cabinets with paint brushes. Always paint in the direction of the wood grain and use broad, sweeping strokes for an even finish. Allow the paint to dry for several hours before applying new coats. Let the cabinets dry for 24 hours before you apply the varnish.

Slather varnish over the cabinets in the same manner in which you painted them. Use a paint brush and layer the varnish in broad strokes. The varnish will protect the new paint from future damage. Allow the varnish 24 hours to dry before screwing the doors and hinges back on.