Refinishing oak cabinets

April 10, 2000

Question from: Lawona
St. Albert, AB

Dear Shell,

The cabinets throughout our nine-year old home are box frame with oak frame/veneer doors currently stained bleached oak. The previous owner of our home varnished all of the cabinetry in the house and then realized that was a mistake. He got most of it off but the traces that he missed have become quite yellow in the past five years. Is there a way to save these doors/frames? Can I remove the varnish without affecting the stain? Or can I stain them slightly darker color (I’m getting tired of the bleached oak look). Do I need to reface the cabinets? Any advice regarding which process and product to use would be very appreciated.

Thanks, Lawona

Dear Lawona,

1. Wash the cabinets with my Shell Busey’s Home Cleaning Formula (heavy-duty mix) using a pot scrubber pad. Rinse well with clear water.
2. When dry all the sheen should be removed.
3. Apply Minwax Polyshades (your colour choice) to darken and finish all in one application.
4. Repeat #3 if you prefer darker finish.

It’s just that easy.

Shell Busey