How to Stain Previously Lacquered Kitchen Cabinets
- 1). Remove all the hardware from the cabinet doors and drawers, and remove the doors from the cabinet bases.
- 2). Apply a coat of gel-based paint and stain remover to the entire surface of the cabinets, and allow it to rest for 30 minutes to an hour, depending upon the manufacturer's instructions. Don't rush this step; allow the gel to do the work for you.
- 3). Wipe the gel-based stain remover off the cabinets with an old cloth. Change the cloth before it becomes very dirty to avoid redepositing the gel back onto the cabinets.
- 4). Clean the surface of the previously lacquered cabinets with a solution of ½ cup of TSP mixed in 2 gallons of warm water. Wearing rubber gloves, wet a sponge in the TSP solution and scrub the cabinets with it, including the doors and drawers. Rinse the TSP off the cabinets before continuing.
- 5). Sand the cabinets with fine-grit sandpaper. You can dampen the sandpaper with water before sanding to make the process go faster, but it is not necessary.
- 6). Wash any remaining residue from the cabinets with a damp sponge, rinsing the sponge often. Dry the surface of the cabinets with a lint-free cloth.
- 7). Apply the stain to the kitchen cabinets with a soft cloth or carpet remnants after stirring the can of stain to distribute the color pigments throughout the base of the stain. Rub the cloth or carpet onto the cabinets, ensuring that all the surfaces are covered.
- 8). Wipe off the bulk of the excess stain with a new soft cloth, making sure not to touch the cabinets with your hands. Dispose of the rags as they become soiled. Run a new cloth over the stained cabinets, working in the direction of the wood grain, to remove any remaining excess stain and smudge marks.
- 9). Allow the stain to dry for four to six hours before applying a second coat, if needed. When staining, each additional coat will darken the color of the cabinets. Adding too many coats of stain may cause them to be too dark. You can't undo stain applications without starting all over, so it is important to gauge the colors of the stain carefully.
