Can You Stain Maple Cabinets to Make Them Darker?

Getting Ready

• If the cabinets have already been installed, you must tape the surfaces surrounding the cabinets so you don't accidentally stain something you shouldn't. The doors and all hardware must be removed, and you should place drop cloths under the cabinets to prevent drips and spills from landing on the floor. Lay the cabinet doors on a clean workspace or on top of sawhorses.

Stripping the Topcoat

• Sanding is the most efficient way to strip a protective topcoat and stain from a wood surface. Solvents will remove the topcoat and some of the stain but not enough for you to re-stain the cabinets. If you do use a solvent, you will have to sand the rest of the stain away after scraping off the topcoat. Handheld belt sanders, sanding blocks and sanding sponges are ideal tools for refinishing cabinets. With either method, you must wear a respirator. Solvents give off toxic fumes, so they should only be used in rooms with good ventilation.

Re-staining

• No steadfast rules are in place for how you should apply stain except for one: Always apply stain with the grain of the wood. You can use a brush, rag, sprayer or roller as long as you paint the stain along the grain of the wood. Once the stain has been sitting on the surface of the wood for about 5 minutes, drag a cloth over the wood to soak up excess stain, which prevents dripping and streaking while creating an even coat.

Sealing

• Once the cabinets are completely dry and you are happy with the look of the stain, you must seal the wood with a protective topcoat, such as varnish, lacquer or polyurethane. Any kind of wood sealer designed for interior surfaces will do the job. Typically, all you have to do is paint the sealer onto the wood and allow it to dry. Polyurethane is a bit different because you generally have to sand between coats. Each type of protective topcoat is a bit different, so read all instructions carefully.