How to Clean and Polish Teak Furniture

How to Clean and Polish Teak Furniture

How to Clean and Polish Teak Furniture. Teak furniture is unique because it produces its own natural oils which makes it very low-maintenance compared to other types of outdoor wood furniture. In addition, teak oil prevents water and water vapor from sinking into the wood which can cause dry rot. Take a look at a selection of high-quality outdoor teak furniture from Patio Productions.

If you don’t mind teak grayish patina will develop over time, teak requires almost no maintenance and can be left on the porch without more than the occasional dust to remain in pristine condition. Below I will show you how to clean and maintain your teak furniture and how to remove the silvery patina.

What You Need To Know About Teak

Teak is a thick and hard tree found in tropical regions of the world such as Indonesia. Tectona Grandis (the original name for teak) is one of the most valuable woods in the world and is unmatched in durability and beauty. Teak is dense so it doesn’t tend to bend, bend, or crack over time.
Natural oils prevent teak furniture from dry decay.
Teak contains natural resins which are substances like rubber. This resin acts as a natural repellent against insects and termites. Although it is said that termites will not eat teak, the reality is they will.

Due to the inherent quality of protection, teak furniture is more expensive than wood or other metal furniture.

Cleaning Teak Furniture

Teak is easy to clean. You can clean it using a brush and mild soap. Always rub with seeds for the best results. You can do this before the outdoor summer. After this, you can usually clean your furniture with a soft cloth.

Remove Stains

To remove heavy stains, you can easily sand these areas with fine sandpaper. The easy trick that I learned to get rid of water stains is to use a clothes iron. It’s fast and easy and it really works.

Fat stains are another beast, but you can still get them out. You will need a commercial-grade teak cleaner that can be purchased online or at your local building supply store.

If you have hard water stains on your teak furniture, don’t worry, we wrote a complete guide on how to remove water stains from teak furniture.

Golden Care EcoSafe Teak Protector

Golden Care makes EcoSafe Teak Protector water-based free of harmful VOCs and is a better alternative for teak sealers such as SEMCO.

Sanding Teak Wood

Light sanding teak wood will reveal a fresh and radiant finish under the surface. This will restore the original chocolate honey glow. Sanding can be a little more difficult on furniture that has areas that are difficult to reach so you have to work around these points by hand. After finishing sanding and removing dust, you can continue to seal the wood to maintain the wood tint.

Color Preservation

Removing Gray Patina From Teak Furniture
The grayish patina developed by teak furniture can be removed with a little cleaning, sealant, and a clean coat! Image courtesy of Jati Outdoor Furniture.

Teak Oil vs Sealer

Sometimes you will hear that all you have to do is light teak furniture once a year. This is not true because teak oil will not prevent fading and can cause mold. Remember, teak has produced natural oils. It’s better to use teak sealers because they will protect the furniture from losing the real gold hue.

How to Apply Teak Sealants

Leave furniture in the sun for 2 weeks to open the grain
Spray the area with a sealer
Rub the sealer into the wood using a lint-free cloth
Teak sealants will usually last for a full year. You can find protective coatings to reduce the effects of sunlight on your furniture. To apply teak wood coatings, leave your furniture in the sun for 2 weeks to open the seeds. This will help the sealer stick properly. Then, spray the area with a sealer using a firm hand. Next, rub the sealer into the wood employing a lint-free cloth. Apply an additional layer of sealant for an optimal finish.

It is important to remember that after you apply teak, your furniture will have a color like when sealing. This means that if you seal your teak while still having the real gold color, it will not age with a grayish silver look. To maintain an ancient aesthetic, you can seal your teak furniture after developing a grayish patina.

How to Apply Clear Coat to Teak

You can apply a clear coat once the sealant drug to provide extraordinary luster. You need to use the type of clear coat specifically designed for teak furniture. To apply:

Lighten the surface then apply 2 layers of clear coat with a clean cloth.
Allow the primary layer to dry before applying the second layer. Clearcoat must always be added after the sealant and not vice versa.

What Not to Use on Teak Furniture

Teak oil should not be used because oil can cause mold and mildew. It also won’t do much to prevent the development of white patina. In this case, you should continue to sand your furniture to keep the honey brown.

Varnish can cut wood and make it peel. Applications for teak wood should not be a multipurpose wood cleaner. Teak is a special type of wood and requires teak wood cleaner, oil, clear coating, etc.

A water repellent/sealer is not needed because the teak is naturally resistant to water.
Pressure wash is good for wooden decks but not for teak furniture. This can cause discoloration and damage to the surface of the wood. The surface will become rough and broken.

Don’t use steel wool or brass wool in teak wood. This brush is too rough. Simple Scotch Brite cleaning pads (used in the kitchen) will work.
Teak Stained Furniture Tables Before and After
Before and after the photos of Irene Conforti’s stained teak table.

Precautions You Can Take

Caring for Teak in Winter
Because of the high humidity level, it is best to bring teak indoors during the winter. Using outdoor furniture indoors is also not a bad idea! If this is not possible, at least make sure the water does not stand on your teak furniture and your feet do not sit in puddles. This can cause your furniture to deteriorate quickly. You can tell if there is fungus because the wood will start black.

You can also use furniture covers to keep your teak protected during the winter months. Furniture covers are a large investment that will help you get the most out of your teak set. This one also has to breathe air vents that increase airflow to prevent mold.

Bird droppings

Bird droppings can easily stain wood. It is best to remove bird droppings immediately to prevent damage to your outdoor furniture. This is another reason why it might be a good idea to invest in the porch cover. They protect it from bird droppings, UV rays, and extend the lifetime of your outdoor furniture.

Removing Patina Silver from Teak Furniture

Sometimes you can get the original light back after the teak turns gray. You can use caustic and acid cleaners or lightly sand the surface to remove the grayish layer and reveal the golden tone underneath.

Gray Patina is actually a natural defense against the weather. This is purely cosmetic and has no effect on the structural integrity of the wood. It develops as a result of oxidation caused by the sun. Golden Care products have been proven to work best in protecting teak furniture from UV rays and mold. They can also be used to remove oil, food, stains, and varnish residues.

Find a Replacement Teak Set

Wisanka Indonesia is a company engaged in manufacturing furniture. Starting from teak wood furniture, Indonesian mahogany furniture, green furniture, classic furniture, rattan furniture, etc. If you are looking for some patio furniture options besides Teak, Wisanka Indonesia company also offers a large selection of rattan and aluminum wicker furniture.

If you are planning a building can consult with us about furniture projects for your building. We have often carried out furniture projects for hotels, furniture projects for cafes, furniture projects for furniture traders, furniture projects for hospitals, furniture projects for restaurants, etc. If you want to allow us to be part of your business as a furniture supplier business partner for you. You can contact us via chat below or can send an inquiry to the Contact Us page.