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You will need them to be stored in another place for about a week. If you don't take all the hinges and knobs off, the stain won't penetrate the entire area, and you may have inconsistencies and bubbles in your finish. Keep all the knobs and hinges in sealable plastic bags with the screws that attach them. Write in marker. Choose a bottom door and sand down the back to remove the original finish. Then, apply stain in several coats to adjoining sections so that you can see what color works best. If you can do this project outside or in a garage with a drop cloth, you will reduce your mess and make the inside of your house a lot more tolerable during the project.
Remove all of the contents from your cabinets. Remove the doors and hardware. Label all of the doors and hardware with a strip of painter's tape and the exact location. Purchase some stain colors to test. Remove the cabinet bases and boxes themselves if you are in the process of a whole room remodel.