How to Stain Oak Cabinets

If you are considering installing new cabinets because the finish on your oak cabinets is fading it would be a big mistake because applying stain to the cabinets would make them look as good as new. Applying the stain is something you can easily do yourself.

Applying a coat or two of stain on your oak cabinets is a lot cheaper than purchasing new cabinets and it can easily be done by following a few simple steps.

1. Use a screwdriver to remove all the hardware from the doors of the cabinets.


2. Remove the doors from the cabinets and place them on worktable, preferable outside or in the garage.


3. Apply a paint stripper or a stain remover on the doors to remove the paint if the doors have been previously painted or stained.


4. Follow the instructions on the remover used to determine how long it should be left on the wood.


5. Use a paint scraper to remove the old paint or stain once the time has lapsed.


6. Use a paintbrush to apply the stain of your choice on the cabinets. It should be applied by following the direction of the grain in the wood with even strokes.


7. Use a soft cloth to remove any excess stain as you move along. Do not allow drips to remain on the wood until you are finished with the cabinets because it will be much harder to remove. The drips should be removed as soon as they are noticed.


8. Stand back and look at the door and touch up any spots that were missed.


9. Apply the stain to the cabinetry on the walls.


10. Allow the stain to dry over night. 


11. Reattach the hardware and replace the doors on the cabinets.