Kitchen cabinets with shiny varnish
(©Jason, Adobe Stock Photos)

Touching up varnish isn’t easy. But when it flakes and makes cabinets, doors and woodwork look unsightly, there’s something you can do about it.

You may be able to lightly sand the area and apply a new coat, but old varnish sometimes yellows and the new varnish simply can’t match up.

First, try spot repairs. How successful spot repairs will be depends on how bad the damage is. If the bare wood has deep grease, grime and stains, it’s different than if the bare wood is pristine.

If spot repairing the varnish isn’t an option, get an orbital sander and grind as much of the flaking varnish down, as you can, without hitting the underlying wood stain. Apply some varnish in the spot.

If you’re happy with the result, great. If you’re not happy with the result, you’ll need to strip everything off, and then sand, stain and varnish the woodwork all over again.

Listen to the Today’s Homeowner Podcast for more home improvement tips!

  • [skipto time=1:30][1:30][/skipto]: Tips for venting bathrooms to the outside
  • [skipto time=6:01][6:01][/skipto]: How to make a dumb-waiter with a garage door opener
  • [skipto time=7:39][7:39][/skipto]: Tips for removing wallpaper
  • [skipto time=12:49][12:49][/skipto]: Best New Product: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool
  • [skipto time=16:07][16:07][/skipto]: The projects Danny is working on at his house
  • [skipto time=18:46][18:46][/skipto]: Tips for making laminate countertops look like granite
  • [skipto time=20:10][20:10][/skipto]: Simple Solution: Extension Cord Safety Tips
  • [skipto time=23:08][23:08][/skipto]: Question of the Week: What to do about flaking varnish

Simple Solutions

Quick Trick for Deodorizing Bathroom Sinks — Bathroom sinks often become clogged with soap scum and hair, which then produces a funky odor. Here’s how to re-freshen and deodorize the sink.

Start by dumping one-third cup of baking soda in the sink drain. Next, take one full cup of white vinegar and pour it down the drain. When it hits the baking soda, it’ll start to fizz.

Wait for a few minutes for the fizzing to calm down, then follow up with a full kettle of boiling water. This will, in combination with the vinegar and the baking soda, cut through anything that might be clogging up the sink.

Repeat this treatment once a month to keep the sink smelling sweet and flowing freely. And if you need to use a plunger to clear a clog, plug up the overflow hole on the side of the sink.

Watch: The Easy Way to Clean and Deodorize Your Sink

Extension Cord Safety Tip — Here’s an important safety tip to remember next time you use an extension cord: Always unplug the cord from the electrical outlet before winding it up.

That’s important because if the cord has a short or is damaged in any way, you can receive a potentially lethal electrical shock.


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Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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