When Vicki Lewis decided her 15-year-old kitchen cabinets were beyond salvaging, she started pricing new cabinets and quickly discovered that replacing her cabinets would be too expensive.

Vicki Lewis invented a product to renew and protect wood surfaces.

But she was not ready to give up. She was tired of looking at her worn, ugly cabinets. "Moisture from the coffee maker had damaged the surface of the overhead cabinet. The finish on the door to the trash can was completely worn off and streaked with dirty fingerprints, and the panels next to the dishwasher were just too disgusting to describe," says Lewis.

She began looking for a less expensive way to make her cabinets look like new. After spending years searching for a simple product that would clean, moisturize, and renew her cabinets, she finally concluded that the only way to get what she wanted was to make it herself.

So Lewis immersed herself in the strange new world (for her, anyway) of chemistry, pursuing a product that would make dry, dull, water-damaged wood look new again without leaving behind any oil or build-up. She wanted a product that would also keep the wood looking great for a long time.

After consulting with woodworkers and antiques dealers (not to mention testing a multitude of different recipes), two formulas emerged as winners. Lewis introduced Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner and Touch of Beeswax Wood Preserver in 1986, and they have been lifesavers for homeowners ever since.

To restore kitchen cabinets, simply spray Touch of Orange Wood Cleaner onto the surface, and wait a few minutes for the formula to penetrate and moisturize the wood. Lightly rub with 0000 grade steel wool in the direction of the grain, and wipe with a soft terrycloth towel; repeat if necessary.

Once cabinets are clean, protect them by applying a thin coat of Touch of Beeswax Wood Preserver. Leave it on for a few hours or overnight so that it penetrates the wood surface; wipe with a clean terrycloth towel to remove any excess oil. Cabinets should be retreated every six months to keep them looking great.

"We found there was a need for products that enabled homeowners to retain and protect the investments they had made in high-quality wood cabinets," says Lewis. "Most people don't realize that even brand new cabinets require protection if they are to last."

To buy Touch of Oranges and Touch of Beeswax, call 800-867-2643 or visit TouchOfOranges.com.