Teak Care And Maintenance

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF TEAK

Teak is a beautiful and durable hardwood. It requires little to no care and will maintain its strength and attractiveness for decades. Below are guidelines, which if followed properly, will allow your furniture to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

THE WEATHERING PROCESS

After the piece is put together, wipe lightly with a damp cloth to remove any dust from manufacturing. The oil on the surface will evaporate after a few days outdoors – it is the oil that remains below the surface that gives the wood its durability. The furniture, when left outdoors, will turn a handsome silver-gray. This process will take approximately nine months, depending on the amount of sunlight and rain exposure. The end result is furniture with a timeless appeal. During the weathering process a slight "checking" or lifting of the grain may occur on the top edges of the arms and legs. You may even notice a few small cracks. This is perfectly natural, as wood expands and contracts slightly when left outdoors. The grain will return to its original smooth finish after the initial weathering process and has no affect on the stability of the furniture in any way. To aid this process, simply clean the furniture with a soft bristle brush or sponge. Water spots or other discoloration may also occur during the weathering process. These will even out, and the furniture will achieve a uniform silver-gray.

CLEANING

The only maintenance necessary for your furniture is periodic cleaning. This should be done with a solution of four parts laundry detergent or dish-washing soap and one part bleach. Use a soft bristle brush to clean your furniture. When you are finished, rinse the entire piece to remove the dirt and any remaining solution. This is sufficient for general cleaning. For deeper cleaning – grease, red wine stain etc. – we recommend the use of teak cleaner. This will remove the silver-gray patina and restore the furniture's original color.

TEAK CLEANER AND SEALER

Should you prefer to keep the furniture the original golden color, we offer a teak sealer. This product will maintain the color for approximately one year and can be reapplied as needed (usually, once a year). After the furniture has weathered and you wish to restore it to the original color, we recommend using our teak cleaner. The cleaner will restore the furniture to the natural golden color regardless of how long the piece has been outside. This product requires no heavy scrubbing or polishing and takes approximately thirty minutes to apply. It can be used as often as you wish. Oiling outdoor furniture is not recomended because of the maintenance involved. Oiling outdoor teak may cause mildew or irregular coloring.