Creating Green Kitchen Cabinets by Staining Oak Cabinets

By Leslie A.M.
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

You like the idea of making your kitchen green but you are not in the market for replacement kitchen cabinet doors--or whole cabinets. The answer might be staining oak kitchen cabinets that you already have using green materials.

Staining Oak Cabinets with Natural Products

Essentially, any dark, organic compound will change the color of wood. There are accounts of staining oak cabinets with tobacco or walnut husks soaked in ammonia, and even rusty nails soaked in vinegar. The two obvious drawbacks with these products are: producing enough to get you through the whole kitchen with a consistent hue, and the ammonia and vinegar can be tough on the wood.

New products are on the market to make staining oak cabinets a breeze. Soy-based stains are cropping up and doing remarkably well, not only on cabinets, but also on wood decks and even as concrete stains.

Green Kitchen Cabinets Benefit from Soy-Based Stains

Soy-based stains use the oil from the soybeans. This is an advantage for green kitchen cabinets because the stain leaves a natural topcoat--no varnish needed. Varnishes often have high VOC ratings that decrease the air quality in your home.

How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets Stained With Natural Products

For best results use a mild household cleaner. Nothing too abrasive or harsh is needed. Murphy's oil soap is a good choice or mix up your own with some vegetable oil and dishwashing liquid--a quarter cup each, diluted with water should do the trick.

As with any home improvement project, test the products in an inconspicuous place (inside a cabinet, for example), before starting the entire project.

 

About The Author

Leslie A.M. Smith is a freelance writer who desperately needs a new kitchen. Until she can afford it, she has her eye on refacing her cabinets.