Can You Restain Blonded Cabinets?

Setting up Your Work Area

• Prevent spills and accidental staining by placing plastic sheeting below the cabinets you intend to stain. Taping off the areas where the cabinets meet the walls will keep stain from getting on the painted surface. You'll need to remove all of the hinges, handles and other hardware from the cabinets, and place the doors up on sawhorses set up on top of a painter's drop cloth.

Sanding Vs. Solvents

• You can use a sander or chemical solvents to remove the original finish from your cabinets -- either works as well as the other. If you go for solvents, open up all the windows in the room; most varnish strippers give off toxic fumes that should not be breathed in. Both methods require that you wear a respirator. Read the label on your solvent before using for specific handling instructions as these vary.

Cleaning

• Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is very commonly used in most wood refinishing projects because it not only neutralizes most stain and varnish strippers, but also removes any stains or other residue left on the wood. Mix about 1/2 cup of TSP into 2 gallons of hot water. After dipping a soft-bristled scrub brush or a clean rag into the solution, wipe your cabinets clean. Rinse the cabinets with warm water, and allow them to dry.

Staining

• If you want to keep the blond look, simply buy a blond stain from a hardware, home improvement or paint store. However, with the wood stripped and cleaned, you can apply any shade of stain you want. Mix the stain as directed by the manufacturer, and apply it with a sprayer, roller, brush or rag. When you are finished staining, wipe the surface of the wood with a clean rag until no more stain comes off of the wood. Add additional coats if desired.

Protective Topcoats

• One of the more common protective topcoats used on wood is polyurethane because it is durable, easy to use and comes in glossy, matte and satin finishes. Pick any finish you want, and apply the polyurethane to the stained cabinets with a foam applicator brush. As the first coat dries, it may bubble slightly. Sand the bubbles down with a very fine-grit sandpaper when the polyurethane is completely dry, and apply another coat of polyurethane.