Teak Patio Furniture Care
Teak wood is a superb and enduring tropical hardwood used for boat building, furniture and outdoor construction. Contrary to popular belief, this low maintenance wood does not require a lot of special maintenance apart from the occasional cleaning. To keep your teak wood in top shape, you’ll want to make sure to take the steps listed below.
To Allow Its Aging Effect
Left to age naturally outdoors, teak will gradually change to a soft, silver-grey as the pigments of the surface slowly start to fade away. To allow this natural aging effect to take place, we recommend you thoroughly clean your teak furniture about once or twice a year with a water-based teak cleaner available from most hardware stores or patio furniture retailers.
Before applying the teak cleaner, you should moisten the surface with clean water. After allowing the cleaner to soak for a few minutes, you should brush the frames clean with a soft scrubbing pad or brush (often included with the cleaner). Finally, you should rinse the teak furniture well with clean water and allow it to dry completely.
To Keep The Original, Golden-Brown Look Of Teak Furniture
If you wish to retain the golden-brown color of new teak furniture, you should use a teak wood sealer after you have cleaned the surface of any dirt and debris. Apply the sealer with a spray bottle, brush, or rag and let it dry for one hour. Then, proceed to apply a second coat.
For continuous protection, it is recommended that you apply once per year. You can usually find these products at your local hardware store, furniture retailer or possibly even from the furniture manufacturer.
Protect Against Moisture And Stains
To protect teak surfaces from staining and to help maintain the silver-grey patina on weathered teak, we recommend using a teak protector. An application of this product forms an almost invisible shield which helps to prevent food (coffee, ketchup, red wine, olive oil, etc.) penetrating into the teak and causing unsightly stains. Teak protector also protects the wood against the ingress of moisture, the adhesion of dirt and prevents mildew growth.
Wipe It Up
Stains are not a problem if you quickly wipe up any spill that might cause stains. Depending on the spilled product and the quantity, you might also need to perform a quick wash with soapy water and a soft brush. Red wine and coffee might cause a staining which requires a more thorough cleaning.
Don't Use Abrasive Materials
Teak wood is really durable, but that doesn’t mean that you can get away with anything you do to it. Steel wool, brass brushes, or pressure washers will do more harm than good. So, this is something that you should avoid at all cost if you want to keep your furniture in good shape. If wood splinters as a result of this, you can always sand it away or take it to a professional.
Keep It Covered
Keeping your teak furniture covered is key to lengthening its natural lifespan. Resistant as it is, constant exposure to the elements and UV exposure can eventually damage your furniture. To keep your teak patio furniture looking its best, you may want to use protective furniture covers when not in use for an extended period of time.