Sand by Hand

• 1). Sand all of the external wood surfaces of your kitchen cupboards using 120-grit sandpaper.
  
  
• 2). Focus on any surface that's visible, such as the cabinet doors and drawers. Remember also to sand the base elements that you see when you open the cabinet doors.
  
  
• 3). Switch to 220-grit sandpaper for more thorough sanding.
  
  
• 4). Continue sanding your kitchen cupboards with 220-grit sandpaper until all of the previous finish is gone.
  
  
• 5). Dust your kitchen cupboards with a clean, dry cloth to remove any sand particles left on the surface.
  
  
• 6). Feel your kitchen cupboards with your fingertips. A high-quality sanding job feels smooth to the touch. If there are rough areas, sand them down until they feel smooth.
  
  

Sand With an Electric Sander

• 1). Clamp your kitchen cupboard to your workspace so it remains still as you sand. If possible, work outdoors to keep your sanding mess out of the house.
  
  
• 2). Sand your kitchen cupboards using medium-grit sandpaper on a random orbital sander until you completely remove the finish.
  
  
• 3). Grip sandpaper in your hand to sand detail areas by hand to make sure you remove all of the finish.
  
  
• 4). Brush all the dust particles off your kitchen cupboards to keep your work area clean.
  
  
• 5). Use your electric sander to finish the sanding process. Sand the cupboards again with 150-grit sandpaper, then with 180-grit sandpaper. This helps provide a smooth surface so you can refinish your kitchen cupboards.