Whitewashing, sometimes called pickling or liming, is an excellent way to revamp wood cabinetry quickly with little cost. Whitewashing wood cabinets will completely change their look and complement other whitewashed wood in the room, such as trim or furniture. This traditional finish can be applied quickly and easily and give your wood furnishings a distinctive appearance.
Instructions Difficulty: Moderate Steps Step One Select a whitewash or pickling stain; consult manufacturer's guidelines for information about selecting and applying specific products. Step Two Remove the cabinet doors using a screwdriver or drill. Set aside the hardware and screws in a safe place. Step Three Set up saw-horses and place the cabinet doors on the sawhorses. Or, clear off space from a work bench or table where you can paint the doors and leave them to dry. Step Four Protect the work area with paint canvases. Step Five Prepare the doors and trim by removing any old paint or stain and sand until smooth. Step Six Wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth to remove all traces of dust and sawdust. Step Seven Apply the stain liberally using a foam brush or rag. Step Eight Allow stain to penetrate the wood surface and then wipe off excess stain with a clean, dry cloth before it dries. Step Nine Apply additional coats of stain as needed to darken and enrich tones allowing to dry three hours between each coat. Step Ten Let the cabinets dry for 24 hours after the last application of stain. Step Eleven If you are staining both sides of cabinet doors, allow surfaces to dry completely before turning over the doors to paint the other side. Step Twelve Replace the cabinet doors, hinges and other hardware when all surfaces are completely dry. Overall Tips & Warnings Wipe off stain in the direction of the wood grain. Applying more pressure will result in lighter tones, less pressure will result in darker tones. Work as a team with one of you applying stain and the other wiping excess stain to ensure a consistent finish. Leftover stain and empty cans may harm the environment; contact your local hazardous materials coordinator for disposal information. Overall Things You'll Need Screwdriver or drill Sandpaper Foam brush Paint scraper Whitewash stain Rags or cloths Sawhorses or work bench Paint canvases
