Known for its durability, teak is a popular choice as an outdoor furniture, and its own unique appeal. Plus, it can withstand harsh weathers for years to come. But just like any other piece of furniture, teak requires somewhat care and maintenance from time to time.
Clean and Care Tips
When you periodically clean the furniture, you can easily maintain its original shine and appearance. Here are a few tips you should follow.
Materials Needed
- Teak oil
- Clean cloth
- Water
- Hose
- Mild Soap
- Sponge
- Copper wool
Step #1: Take a clean cloth and wipe the furniture properly. If you don't do this step on a regular basis, the furniture will begin to take on color-mostly gray.
Step #2: A vital step is to sand the furniture once it begins to turn gray. Sanding the furniture will help keep the color intact and preserve its smooth finish. Plus, in order to maintain the color, apply the teak oil every 3 months or so.
Step #3: Now we'll use a hose to clean the furniture, but make sure that the pressure is low. You can use only water to clean, but if you happen to notice any tough stains or dirt on the furniture, use soapy water instead. In the end, rinse the soap with clean water so that it won't leave any soap scum.
Step #4: If there are any bird droppings on the furniture, use a copper wool, and not steel wool to get rid of it.
Maintenance Tips
As we mentioned earlier, you rarely have to take a lot of care of the teak furniture. But if you follow these maintenance steps, it will extend the life of your furniture.
Step #1: During winter, always keep the furniture covered; regardless of whether it's indoors or outdoors. For outdoor furniture, mostly the lawn or uncovered patio furniture, keep it under an area where it receives constant shade. Also, don't keep the furniture in puddles, or outside when it's raining.
Step #2: Teak is durable, but it also is sensitive toward getting stained and/or damaged. Certain types of chemicals and prolonged exposure to harsh weather can harm the surface of the furniture.
Step #3: Use cleaners that are designed for teak furniture. So purchase a cleaner that provides this specification. Follow the directions that is mentioned on the product, and use a non-metallic scrubber to clean the surfaces. Make sure to rinse the scrubber every time after use.
Step #4: After you've cleaned the furniture, it requires time to dry completely. On the next day, if you feel that the color of your furniture is what you were looking for, then only move on to the next step. If the color appears to be darker, then apply the cleaner one more time.
Step #5: Finally, you need to use the teak oil that will help keep the wood sturdy, and looking gorgeous as ever. Again, always use the specific amount mentioned on the bottle.
Finally, keep young children and pets away till the teak oil has time to dry off. Apart from the teak furniture, these same steps can be applied for cleaning and maintaining a boat, umbrellas, or any other item make of teak.
