How to Make Stained Cabinets Look New

Remove the doors, drawers and hardware from your cabinets. Stained cabinets may only need a few coats of polyurethane to bring them back to life. Clean the cabinets, doors and drawer fronts with Murphy's Oil Soap or a fifty/fifty blend of white vinegar and water to remove any grease or debris. Let the wood surfaces dry.

Lightly sand the stained surface with light-grade sandpaper. This will break up the finish and prepare the wood to accept the new coat of polyurethane, stain or paint. Remove all of the sanding debris with a damp cloth.

Apply a thin layer of polyurethane to the wood surfaces with a disposable sponge brush. Let the product dry before applying a second coat. Read the manufacturer's instructions regarding drying time and reapplication for your product. You'll need several thin coats of polyurethane to create a thick and shiny protective coating for your cabinets. Most water-based polyurethanes don't require sanding between coats but if yours does, use steel wool and a light touch.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 if you plan to apply a new coat of stain to your cabinets. Apply the stain with a disposable sponge brush. One or two thin coats of stain should be sufficient, but you can deepen the color by adding more stain layers. Finish your newly stained cabinets by adding a few coats of polyurethane as described in Step 3.

Prime and paint over your stained cabinets for a totally new look. Repeat Steps 1 and 2, and then apply a thin coat of primer to all of the stained surfaces. Let the primer dry before adding your first coat of paint. One coat of color may be all you need, especially if you applied tinted primer. If two paint coats are required, let the first one dry completely before adding the second.

Replace the doors, drawers and hardware after the new finish has dried completely. Buy new cabinet hardware or clean your old hardware with the vinegar and water mixture.