Woman Uses Simple Refinishing Trick to Give 'Granny' Cabinet an Upscale Look

Think you can't bring that outdated orange furniture back into style? Think again! That piece from the sixties may not fit seamlessly into your modern home, but with a little magic, it can be transformed into a stunning addition. TikTok creator Danielle Nicholson showed us just how it’s done with her genius refinishing trick.

Danielle stumbled upon a massive solid wood cabinet on Facebook Marketplace for just a hundred bucks. It was a real steal, except for one glaring issue—it looked like it belonged in your grandma's attic. The orange wood finish was nothing short of an eyesore. Determined to make it fit with her laundry room's aesthetic, Danielle knew she had to get rid of that dated look.

Related: DIYer Shares Tip Tip for Cancleing Out Orange Tinted Tones in Wood

She started with multiple passes using a sander, hoping to scrape away decades of orange hue. But even after sanding, staining, and applying wood bleach, the cabinet still wasn’t giving off those chic vibes she wanted. It was like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole—frustrating and seemingly impossible.

But Danielle didn’t give up. She had one last trick up her sleeve. You’ll never guess what it was—oven cleaner! Yes, you read that right. Danielle used oven cleaner to strip and bleach the wood, giving the cabinet a fresh, modern look. Oven cleaner worked wonders where traditional methods failed, breaking down the orange stain and revealing the beautiful, natural wood underneath.

How Does Oven Cleaner Take Off Wood Finish?

Skeptical? Here’s how it works. Oven cleaner contains strong cleaning agents that break down stubborn grease and stains—perfect for cutting through that old wood finish. Simply spray the oven cleaner on the wood, scrub it in, and wipe it off. The result is a lighter, more modern piece of furniture that looks like it came straight out of a high-end store. Just be careful in how you use it and always take safety precautions before ever using chemicals!

If only Danielle had known about this trick from the beginning, she could have saved herself a lot of time and effort. But hey, her “mistake” is our gain. We can now skip the boring (and probably not even all that effective) sanding and bleaching steps and go straight to the good stuff. Thanks to Danielle, we’ve learned that sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.

Love what you're reading? Be sure to follow us on Google News and subscribe to our Newsletter to get home and gardening news right to your inbox. For a chance to be featured on DenGarden and our social channels, click here to upload your clip and share your latest project with the world.