How to Clean and Remove Stains from Teak Wood Furniture
Teak furniture can keep its appearance for many years if it is cleaned and and taken care of properly. See the advantages and disadvantages of teak furniture here.
WHY DOES TEAK FURNITURE LAST SO LONG?
Teak has a high oil content and is a closed grained hardwood. Those two components create a long wearing wood. It is also strongly resistant to rotting. You can leave teak in the sun or rain and even snow. Read: How to Apply teak Oil.
WHY DOES MY TEAK FURNITURE THAT I JUST BOUGHT HAVE DARK AND SOMETIMES ORANGE STRIPES?
Well for one you know it is teak, because all real teak furniture has these markings. These markings will disappear once the teak spends some time outdoors in the sun. These marks are mostly seen right after the kilning process when they are removing the moisture from the wood. They do this before they actually start creating the furniture. By doing this it will help the teak adjust to the climate changes.
WHY DO OCCASIONAL CRACKS APPEAR ON MY FURNITURE?
These cracks are normal. The wood will expand and shrink depending on the weather, but will not affect the dependability of the furniture. Unless of course the teak is manufactured incorrectly.
CAN TEAK FURNITURE BE KEPT OUTSIDE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR?
Yes, your teak furniture can be left outside all year. Remember though, just because teak wood is tough as nails it will get dirty, but the teak wood will withstand the rigors of the outdoors.If you do store your teak furniture be careful not to move it from one extreme to another. For example if you move the teak furniture from the cold outside, do not place it into your heated home. This extreme climate change could cause the wood to split. But instead move it to your unheated garage or shed.
EXTERNAL TEAK FURNITURE
If the furniture is outdoors, it is important to protect it from the elements during the winter months. It is best to cover the furniture or move it inside when it is raining or snowing out.
Teak furniture does not do well and can mildew if it allowed to get wet. During the hotter months, the wood can dry out and loose its luster as well as crack if it is allowed to bake in the sun.
To protect teak furniture it must be washed and treated.
Read: Teak Chaise Loungers
SIMPLE CLEANING OF TEAK FURNITURE
To clean teak wood furniture you will need a mild detergent and water.
- Dip a sponge in a mixture of one cup of mild detergent and one gallon of water.
- Wipe the furniture to remove any dust and dirt build-up.
After the furniture has been thoroughly wiped down and cleaned, rinse the soap off the pieces and allow them to dry in the sun for two days. This will prevent the wood from becoming mildewed.
REPAIRING CRACKS IN TEAK FURNITURE
After the furniture has been in the sun for two days, you should notice any prior cracks the furniture may have. as they will become more obvious. To repair cracks, you will need a teak wood sealer. This can be purchased from any do-it-yourself home store.
Fill each crack with the sealer and allow this to dry for another two days.
GETTING RID OF STAINS IN TEAK FURNITURE
For stains in the furniture you will need sand paper and teal oil.
- Use the sandpaper to remove the stains by lightly scrubbing with a fine grade sandpaper until they disappear.
- Apply the teak oil to the areas to restore the color and shine. Apply teak oil with a painters brush.
- Allow the oil to soak into the furniture for two to three days.
PREVENTING FUNGUS AND INSECTS
To prevent fungus and insect problems, apply a sealant to the furniture. It is best to apply this with a brush. The furniture can also be waxed to bring back its glassy finish. This can be applied with a soft cloth or a sponge. Olive oil can be used in place of teak oil if you desire. It will not produce the effects that teal oil will and we don’t really recommend it.
Apply varnish to the furniture instead of a teak sealant if you want the furniture to match other wood pieces. Choose a varnish color as close to a match as you can of the teak wood for the best results.
Also read: the most popular teak furniture.
