How to wax cabinets?

Hello Brenda! There are various waxes on the market that you can use. They are often located with the chalk paint at Home Improvement stores and craft stores. I am partial to Annie Sloan clear wax. Just remember--a little goes a long ways. Several thin coats buffed in between is the way to go. I like to use microfiber towels or blue garage towels to buff.

I don't think I would choose to wax my kitchen cabinets simply because of the heat and greasy grime in the kitchen. Maybe a few thin coats of a clear water based poly would be a better idea.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/clean-wax-old-kitchen-cabinets-104780.html

https://www.oldhouseonline.com/kitchens-and-baths-articles/keep-kitchen

Hi Brenda if you are looking for some good waxes, Annie Sloan has some amazing ones. They come in clear, antiquing (dark brown) black and white. They are really easy to use and buff up. You can check out her website for local stockists. Hope that helps!

Personally I would also not choose a wax either. I would thoroughly clean the cabinets with TSP (more info here: https://weekendcraft.com/diy/how-to-clean-your-kitchen-cabinets-with-tsp/) and then put two coats of a high gloss or semi gloss sealant on them. I would use Polycrylic because it dries fast and isn't stinky or very toxic because its water based. However an oil based sealant will dry harder and give you and even stronger finish such as a polyurethane.

Brenda: this is my go-to wax

https://www.anniesloan.com/annie-sloan-products/annie-sloan-waxes-and-finishes

wax will get gunky and gross in a kitchen

There are many great waxes but personally I would not ever wax kitchen cabinets. Why not clean well and then apply a glossy clear sealer.

If the cabinets are factory lacquer you need to stick with that or refinish. If mainly the doors it is easy to remove the doors, ley flat and respray with lacquer NOT poly, especially not acrylic poly it will peel! Clean doors very well with TSP and lightly sand to prep. Stick with lacquer or you'll be sorry.

I do not like wax on kitchen cabinets. It is a magnet for dust and grease in the kitchen. I would clean them really well and either use poly acrylic or lacquer spray. I used poly acrylic on my cabinet doors about 8 years ago and they still look great. I have also used lacquer on my bathroom vanity and they are holding up great with all the hot showers.

Thank you for all the helpful answers. I understand about the wax in the kitchen and can see it getting funky. That wouldn't solve the problem of protecting them from the grease and grime. Is it a normal practice to spray a sealer on cabinets? First I heard of that but can see the benefit. Once per year, my mom used to wash her cabinets with Tide, actually she washed all her wood furniture with Tide, and then she would wax them but I don't know what she used. They were oak cabinets and in her kitchen for 30 years and looked brand new. Thanks again for all the help!

Commercial cabinet shops routinely spray lacquer their products.

I would remove the doors & drawers and spray them with lacquer in the garage or other wind free space, outside.