How to Sand & Refinish Cabinets

Remove doors from kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Unscrew the door from the hinges using a flathead or Philips screwdriver. Place a piece of masking tape on the inside of the door and the corresponding cabinet. Write the same number on the tape of the door and cabinet for easier replacement when finished. Do the same for each cabinet door.

Place the cabinet doors outside on top of a table with old rags or towels. Place old sheets below the cabinets within the home to catch dust from sanding. Remove handles and hinges from the cabinet doors with the screwdriver, and place them in a plastic bowl for safekeeping.

Sand the cabinets and the doors with a 60-grit sandpaper. Use medium pressure, and work the sandpaper with the grain of the wood. Sand over the area a second time using light pressure and a finer 180-grit sandpaper to smooth out the finish.

Vacuum excess dust from the cabinets and doors with a sweeper attachment. Wipe the remaining dust from the cabinets and doors with tack rags. Remove all dust from crevices or grooves in the cabinet doors.

Refinish the cabinets and doors with a wood stain. Pour 2 to 3 tbsp. of wood stain onto a clean cloth, and wipe over a cabinet door. Use medium pressure to work the stain into the wood. Wipe the excess stain from the door with a clean rag. Move to the next door, and repeat the procedure. Stain the cabinets in the same manner. Allow the cabinets and doors to dry for 24 hours.

Spray a clear coat finish onto the doors and cabinets, and wipe the excess from the surface with a soft cloth. The clear finish adds shine and protection to the wood. Place the doors back to their proper places on the cabinets.