Teak patio furniture is unique because it produces its own natural oil that makes it very low maintenance in comparison to other types of outdoor wood furniture. And teak’s natural oil prevents water and moisture from sinking into the wood, resisting dry rot. While you’re learning to care for teak furniture, check out some high quality outdoor furniture options made with all natural teak wood from Patio Productions.
If you don’t mind the grayish patina that teak will get over time, it doesn’t need much maintenance and can be left on the patio with just an occasional dusting to keep it in great shape. Below I will show you how to clean and care for you teak furniture as well as how to remove the silvery patina.
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Teak is a dense, hard deciduous tree found in tropical regions of the world like Burma and Thailand. Tectona Grandis (the scientific name for teak) is one of the most valuable timbers in the world and unmatched in durability and beauty. Here are things you should know so you can take care of teak furniture.
Teak is easy to clean. You can do so using a brush and mild dish soap. You can also add a splash of vinegar to take care of the stubborn grime. Don’t worry—the vinegar won’t damage the wood at all as long as it’s diluted.
Always scrub with the grain for best results. You can do this before the outdoor summer season begins. After this, you can just dust off your furniture with a soft cloth.
As you clean the furniture, make sure to use a soft cloth or a soft plastic brush. Don’t use metal brushes or steel wool as you’ll scratch and damage the wood’s finish.
After you’re done scrubbing, you can wipe the soap residues off with a clean cloth or hose down the furniture. Just don’t use pressure washing tools as the heat from the friction of the water hitting the furniture may damage and stain the teak.
Did You Know? Teak is an eco-friendly option.
Learn how by reading this short article.
To remove heavy stains, you can lightly sand away these areas with fine-grit sandpaper. Refer to the section below to learn how to sand teak furniture. An easy trick that I learned to remove water stains is by using an clothing iron. It’s quick and easy and it really works.
Grease stains are another beast but you can still get them out. You will need a commercial grade teak cleaner that can be purchased online or at a local hardware store.
These are products specifically designed for cleaning teak wood decks and furniture. Obviously, they’re more effective at cleaning teak wood than soap and water. As such, they’ll have an easier time getting rid of any grease or grime without damaging or corroding your furniture.
To use a teak cleaner, simply apply the product to moistened furniture. Let it sit for about three minutes, then start brushing the wood with a soft scrubbing pad.
If you have some tough water stains on your teak furniture, don’t worry, we wrote a full guide on how to remove water stains from teak furniture.
Golden Care makes a water-based EcoSafe Teak Protector
that is free of hazardous VOCs and is a better alternative
to teak sealers like SEMCO. There’s a reason why it is used
by all of the top teak furniture brands in including
Gloster, Barlow, & Tyrie.
OYSTER TEAK WARNING: Don’t use teak cleaners or any harsh cleaner on oyster teak furniture. Oyster teak has an oil-based finish that gives the aged-teak look. As such, any harsh cleaner will strip away the finish, ruining the wood’s appearance. Only use mild soap and dish water to clean this type of wood.
Lightly sanding teak wood will reveal a fresh, glowing finish below the surface. This will restore the original honey brown glow. Sanding can be a bit more difficult on furniture that has hard to reach areas so you have to work around these spots by hand. Once you’re finished sanding and removing dust, you can move on to seal the wood to preserve the hues of the wood.
Note: Don’t use power sanding tools as the produced heat may leave dark marks on the teak’s surface.
Did You Know: The deck of the Titanic was covered in teak wood?
Sometimes you’ll hear that all you have to do is lightly oil teak furniture once a year. This is untrue because teak oil will not prevent fading and it can cause mildew. Remember, teak already produces a natural oil. It’s better to use teak sealers because they will protect furniture from losing the original golden hues.
So, where did the teak oil tip come from? Well, you can oil teak furniture, but only if it’s indoors. The oil will maintain the wood’s shine and preserve its appearance for a long time.
However, when using it on outdoor furniture, you’ll do more harm than good. You see, in the outside environment, the applied teak oil will start evaporating after a few weeks, taking with it a little bit of the wood’s natural oils. Hence, the wood will become drier, weaker, and more susceptible to damage as time goes on.
Also, oiling will also mess up the wood’s inherent mold resistance, leading to mildew growth on your furniture.
And get this—the oil won’t even help with the weathering process. Since the oil doesn’t affect the wood’s chemistry, your teak furniture will continue graying.
So, you shouldn’t ever oil your outdoor teak furniture. If you like to protect your teak furniture, you’d do well to apply a sealer.
Unlike teak oils, they don’t add any resins or oils to the wood. They simply lock in the teak’s natural oils. They also offer protection from sunlight, humidity, and mold. As such, they’ll minimize the weathering process and help maintain the teaks’s golden color.
Teak sealant will typically last you a full year. You can find protective sealant to lessen the effects of the sun’s rays on your furniture. To apply teak sealant, leave your furniture out in the sun for 2 weeks to open up the grain. This will help the sealer adhere correctly. Then, spray the area with sealer using a steady hand. Next, rub the sealer into the wood using a lint-free cloth. Apply an additional coat of sealant for a optimum finish.
It’s important to keep in mind that once you apply a teak sealer, your furniture will hold the color that it has at the time of sealing. This means that if you seal your teak when it still has the original golden color, it will not age to the silver-gray look. To preserve the antiquated aesthetic, you can seal your teak furniture once it develops the grayish patina.
You can apply a clear coat once the sealant cures to give it an amazing sheen. You will need to use a type of clear coat that is specially designed for teak furniture. To apply:
Because of high moisture levels, it’s best to bring teak indoors during the winter. Using outdoor furniture indoors isn’t such a bad idea either! If this is impossible, at least ensure that water isn’t standing on your teak furniture and that the legs aren’t sitting in puddles. This can cause your furniture to deteriorate quickly. You can tell if mildew is present because the wood will begin to turn black.
But, don’t worry. Mildew can easily be removed with a thorough cleaning. So, if you ever find any black areas, clean your teak furniture at once.
Note: Some people mistakenly think that black spots on outdoor teak furniture are harmful black mold. However, those blackened areas are just natural wood mold spores that can easily be removed.
You can also use furniture covers to keep your teak protected during the cold winter months. Furniture covers are a great investment that will help you get the most out of your teak set. These ones also have breathable air vents that promote air flow to prevent mildew.
TIP: Keep teak furniture away from damp and shaded areas to prevent mold and mildew!
Bird droppings can stain wood very easily. It’s best to remove bird droppings immediately to prevent any damage to your outdoor furniture. This is another reason why it may be a good idea to invest in patio covers. They protect it from bird droppings, UV rays, and extend the life of your outdoor furniture.
Sometimes you can get the original glow back after you’re teak has turned gray. You can use a caustic acid cleaner or lightly sand the surface to remove the grayish layer and reveal the golden tone beneath.
The gray patina is actually a natural defense against the weather. It is purely cosmetic and does not have any effect on the structural integrity of the wood. It develops as a result of oxidation caused by the sun. Golden Care products have proven to best protect teak furniture from UV rays and mildew. They can also be used to remove oil, food, stains, and varnish residue.
Patio Productions is an online e-tailer of upscale home goods. We pride ourselves on carrying the top brands while also guarantee the lowest prices! How is this possible? All items ship directly from the warehouse and straight to your home.
If you’re looking for some patio furniture options other than Teak, Patio Productions offers a great selection of outdoor wicker furniture and cast aluminum outdoor furniture as well.
Here is just a sample of our teak furniture for sale at Patio Productions:
Additional Resources:
Cheryl is an award-winning landscape design consultant in San Diego, CA. She has over a decade of experience in the design world, working on both interior and exterior projects. She received her certification in design in 2010 and has contributed to the design of 7 separate furniture collections. Cheryl began lending her expertise to Patio Productions’ blog in 2012. When she’s not living in the furniture and design world, she’s busy playing with her dogs at home, or curling up with a cup of black coffee and a beautiful book on modern design. Her favorite patio furniture are her Acapulco Chairs in lightning blue.
