Care of Garden Teak Furniture

Teak is a popular outdoor furniture wood because of its naturally high resistance to rot and deterioration.  Teak ranges from a light honey colour, to a dark rich brown, but if left outdoors untreated will eventually turn grey or silvery in appearance.  This can be an attractive colour in its own right, making teak a versatile wood for patio furniture.  Teak is also used internally for flooring and furniture because of its warm earthy colours and durable nature.

Teak is a hardwood and part of the reason it is so durable is that it is high in resinous oils and does not dry out very quickly.  This also prevents it from absorbing too much moisture, making it less likely to rot.  If teak is being used as garden furniture, most manufacturers recommend that a natural weathering process be allowed to take place.  This means you do not put any treatments or preservatives on the wood, and leave it for a minimum of 3 months outdoors to weather in.  If the furniture becomes dirty during this time then you can clean it with just simple soapy water, or for stubborn stains a specialist teak cleaner can be used.  You can also restore the natural golden brown tones of the wood by using specialist teak cleaner, and then sealing it with teak sealer or natural teak oil.  This will need to be repeated annually in order to maintain the natural earth colours.

If you are using any soft furnishings with outdoor teak furniture, it is important to note that unweathered teak can leach out some of its natural oils, especially after a good soaking in the rain.  Make sure the furniture has completely dried out before using any fabric covers or cushions to avoid staining.

For indoor teak flooring, you will need to coat the boards as soon as they are laid with a light layer of teak oil.  This will prevent dirt and grease from being tracked deep into the grain, and this first coat should last for 2 or 3 years.  To further protect the floors always ensure not to drag furniture across its surface to prevent scratching and place rugs and mats at strategic points such as front doorways to minimise wear and tear.

Dining room furniture can be polished with regular products and a dry clean cloth, and you could supplement unvarnished pieces with an annual clean with teak cleaner, and a light application of teak oil.:)