Easily Renew Wood Cabinets Without Actually Refinishing

Our kitchen and bathroom wooden cabinets are over 30 years old. They were water stained, drab and ugly. I wanted to refinish them without all the work and cost of actual refinishing. I found products at Home Depot; it was so easy, and only cost about $20.00 altogether! And it was enough to do my entire kitchen and a bathroom!

Step 1: Supplies

Ugly Cabinets

Sponge for Washing

Rubber Gloves

Old Newspapers

Howard Restor-A-Finish (Wood Finish Restorer at Home Depot $8.98)

Cloth Pads (I cut up an old flannel sheet, folded them and used those, I had at least a half dozen)

Super Fine Steel Wool (Home Depot $3.98) If the finish is really bad.

Howard Feed-N-Wax (Wood Polish and Conditioner at Home Depot $7.98)

Step 2: Clean Cabinets

First clean the cabinets. Nothing major, I just used sponge with a little dish soap and water. Rinse with clear water. Let them dry.

Step 3: Go to Home Depot

Buy Restor-A-Finish, Super Fine (0000) Steel Wool and Howard Feed-N-Wax. For Restor-a-Finish you are supposed to choose the color that matches your finish, but I only could find Walnut, so that’s what I bought. (That’s a medium color anyway so I don’t think it matters too much, anything is better than what it was…) It’s only $8.98 and it works great!

Step 4: Apply Restor-A-Finish

Get your rubber gloves. Wear old clothes. Protect your floors with newspapers. Open the windows and doors; try not to breathe the vapors. Depending on how bad your finish is, either apply with a small pad of cloth, (I had cut up an old flannel sheet), or with super fine (0000) steel wool. Do not pour directly onto the finish. Pour a small amount on your rag (small pad of cloth). Use steel wool if the finish is really bad. (If you use the steel wool, always rub with the wood grain. Be sure to test the pressure you use with the steel wool in a spot you can’t see well, because finishes vary in hardness.) Do a small area at a time, then immediately wipe dry with another rag. Always wipe off excess Restor-A-Finish. It will look good immediately!

Step 5: Apply Howard Feed-N-Wax

It will look even nicer if you put this wood polish on it. Wait at least 30 minutes after you used the Restor-A-Finish. Pour some Feed-N-Wax onto your cloth pad. Wipe this onto the wood surface evenly. After 20 minutes, wipe off the excess. Then use a soft clean cloth and buff it to a shine.

Step 6: You Are Done!

Your cabinets are restored without all the work of refinishing! No sanding! No stripping! No staining! No clear coating! Just rub the stuff on! Look at the difference it makes!