Known for its beautiful golden brown hues, teak is an exceptionally durable hardwood native to South and Southeast Asia. Teak's high natural oil content increases its strength and durability, making it an ideal material for outdoor furniture. Although this wood is relatively insensitive and requires very little care, you should not neglect your outdoor teak furniture in the long term. With prolonged neglect, your valuable teak furniture can become dirty and discolored, losing its aesthetic charm. Here are some tips on how to clean and care for teak to keep it bright, beautiful and in top condition for longer.
Garden furniture is a magnet for dirt, bird droppings and mold. While you can't prevent these natural contaminants, you can set up a specific cleaning routine for your outdoor furniture.
Regular cleaning can do wonders for your outdoor teak furniture. It is recommended that the furniture be thoroughly cleaned annually, preferably in spring on a nice, windy day so that the teak can dry quickly. In general, it's best if youthe Outdoor FurnitureScrub lightly with a stiff brush at least four times a month. This will remove dirt, leaves, cobwebs and other contaminants from the wood surface. Be sure to follow the natural grain of the wood to avoid scratches on the smooth surface.
Wash teak furniture with dishwashing detergent
Wash your teak furniture from time to time with a highly diluted solution of dishwashing detergent and warm water. Alternatively, you can gently scrub your furniture with a store-bought, mild teak cleaner. You can make your own solution by adding a small amount of dishwashing detergent to a mixture of 250ml of bleach orwhite vinegarand add 4 liters of water. Apply the solution to the furniture and allow it to act for five minutes. Use a soft cleaning brush that cannot damage the surface of the wood.
You can then either wipe the wooden surface with a soft cloth or spray it with a hose. Do not use a high-pressure cleaner as this will loosen the joints and remove the teak's natural, protective oils. Be sure to dry your teak furniture completely after each cleaning.
Clean teak with chemical cleaner
You can also use a store-bought teak cleaner, but be aware that store-bought chemical cleaners can be harmful to your furniture and skin. However, these cleaners are best for removing deep grease stains.
Remove black stains and mold from teak garden furniture
Black spots are usually caused by moisture in the wood that develops into mold or mildew. If you want to remove black spots, mold and water stains from your teak, you canbleach it. Teak wood brighteners contain bleach, usually oxalic acid. Bleach can damage the surface of the teak, so be careful with it. You can mix your own oxalic acid solution in a bucket of water, but use it sparingly and rinse the surface thoroughly.
Clean teak by sanding it
You can also sand your outdoor teak furniture. To do this, use an orbital sander with 120-grit sandpaper. Vacuum or brush off any resulting dust and wipe the surface with a duster.
Maintain teak wood
Clean up spills as quickly as possible
Accidental spills are inevitable. And if not removed immediately, they can leave unsightly stains on your valuable garden furniture. To prevent this, you should clean any spilled oil, chemicals or food from your teak furniture as quickly as possible. If you spot a stain, use a cleaning brush to gently remove it. Again, you should always scrub in the direction of the wood grain. If scrubbing the stain doesn't help, try washing it off with a diluted mixture of water and wood cleaner. If there are stubborn stains, you can sand the area with fine sandpaper. Avoid using scouring pads and metal brushes as they can damage the wood surface.
Oil or seal outdoor teak furniture
Teak is usually available either finely sanded and untreated or treated with teak oil. The untreated wood naturally has a light golden color, the treated wood tends to be a darker honey gold. Untreated teak weathers over time to a silver-grey tone - this layer that is created is called patina. We give you a few ideas on how to care for teak wood.
If you prefer your garden furniture, decking and fences to be gold rather than grey, you can oil them or sand them and seal them with teak sealant. Sealants prevent the wood's natural oils from being consumed, thereby delaying the weathering process. Sealants also protect the wood from UV radiation, mold and water damage.
Although oiling preserves the color, it dries out the teak's natural oils and can lead to faster deterioration. In this context, it is recommended to avoid teak oils. Oiling your teak furniturefor outdoor usecan lead to a number of maintenance problems. High-quality teak has all the oils it needs to survive outdoors, which is why you should stay away from sealants and protectants. Instead, sanding and sealing is recommended to preserve teak furniture in the long term. Regardless of whether you choose to oil or seal the wood, you must first clean the surface.
