How to Finish the Side of a Cabinet

Wash the side of the cabinet with a solution made with two ounces of trisodium phosphate and about one gallon of hot water. Trisodium phosphate is an effective cleaner commonly used to remove oil and grease stains from porous surfaces, such as wood and concrete.

Wipe the side of the cabinet with a cloth dipped into a bucket of clean water until there is no more residue left from the trisodium phosphate. Allow the cabinet to dry.

Apply stain to the side of the cabinet. If you don't know what stain to use for the cabinet, take a picture of the already stained part and bring it to a hardware, home improvement or paint store. Ask the salesperson to help you match the finish to a stain pigment. If available, ask for gel-type stain.

Use the appropriate tool for applying the stain. If you managed to get gel-type stain, all you need to do is put a small amount on a clean cloth and spread it onto the wood -- always with the grain, never against it. With standard liquid stain, you have options for tools you can use, though it is easiest to control stain distribution and prevent streaks and drips by applying the stain with a cloth.

Dip a cloth into the liquid stain and wipe it into the wood grain. As with gel-type stains, you must work with the grain. With either product, your goal should be to use as little stain as possible to completely coat the surface of the wood.

Allow the stain to dry completely. Stir the polyurethane carefully until it is mixed well. Dip a foam or lamb's wool applicator in the polyurethane -- do not submerge or soak the applicator, just get a very small amount on the surface.

Spread the polyurethane on the side of the cabinet. As with the stain, you must apply the sealer with the grain of the wood and you must spread it as thinly as possible. Allow the polyurethane to dry. This generally takes eight or more hours, but varies by manufacturer.

Scuff the cured polyurethane by hand with a small piece of 400-grit sandpaper. You just need to lightly sand the surface -- this gets rid of fingerprints, minor imperfections in the polyurethane and gives the next coat an abraded surface to cling to.

Wipe the cabinet with a damp cloth to remove the dust. Apply two or three more coats of polyurethane using the same process.