Teak is a popular choice for outdoor furniture because if its natural beauty and durability. I love teak and have it not only for my patio, but in my shower as well. It is remarkably long lasting and although relatively easy to care for, it still requires special attention on a yearly basis to keep it in tip-top shape.
If you have teak furniture, here are my top ten tips for cleaning your outdoor furniture. If you follow these, you will enjoy the beauty of your teak outdoor furniture for years to come.
Tip 1: Inspect your outdoor teak furniture
Before cleaning your outdoor teak furniture, inspect it and try to recall what other products you have used in the past. Is your teak in its natural state or do you have a sealant on it? What brand of sealant? Are there stains on it? Are they food/drink stains? Are there black spots from mold? Have you oiled it? If so, what type and brand of oil did you use?
Knowing the answers to these questions can help guide you in cleaning your teak furniture. If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you can still follow the tips below for cleaning your teak furniture, but this year write down your cleaning methods, and any brands of oils/sealants, etc. that you use. This will make next year’s cleaning easier.
Tip 2: Decide whether to protect your outdoor teak furniture
If you have new teak furniture, or even if your teak furniture is several years old, you should make a conscious decision about how you want your outdoor teak furniture to age. Teak furniture does not require any sealants at all, and will last just as long with a minimal amount of care if left natural. However, it will develop a silver gray patina over time if left untreated. If you like that look, then leave it natural and enjoy the natural aging process.
However, if you love the honey gold look of teak, then you will want to use some type of protectant/sealer. I prefer the honey gold color, so my teak furniture is sealed. More on this below.
Tip 3: Washing teak furniture
At a minimum, you should clean your teak furniture once a year by thoroughly washing it. Whether your teak is natural or sealed with a protectant, the method is the same. Simply combine a 50/50 mixture of dish or laundry detergent and warm water and apply to the teak using a soft bristle brush. Many boat owners that have teak on their boats swear by Wisk laundry detergent. If you need a little extra cleaning power, you can also add some TSP. However, use the mildest cleanser that does the job.
Allow to sit for several minutes to allow the detergent to suspend the dirt, and then rinse well with clean water, using the brush to help wash away the detergent and dirt.
Tip 4: Cleaning Outdoor Teak Furniture Stains: One-step commercial teak cleaners
If you have set-in food or drink stains on your teak or there are other stubborn stains that still appear when the teak is dry, you may need to use a specialized teak cleaner. One-step commercial teak cleansers generally contain oxalic acid. Specialized one-step teak cleaners can often be found at boat shops or online boat supply retailers. However, a readily available substitute is Bar Keeper’s friend. This is also made from oxalic acid and can be used on stubborn teak stains.
Tip 5: Restoring Outdoor Teak Furniture: Two-step commercial teak cleaners
These are particularly harsh cleaners and are only recommended if you have a teak furniture that has aged with a silver gray patina and you want to restore it to the original honey gold color or if you have a severely stained and neglected piece of teak furniture. Remember there is nothing damaged about teak that has developed a patina. I personally would just recommend keeping the patina if you have such a piece, as this is such a harsh method of cleaning teak furniture. But if your heart is set on restoring the color, this is an option.
The first step contains acids that strip off the patina, followed by a neutralizer. Closely follow directions when using a two-step cleaner. One brand you can buy online is Semco Teak 2-part cleaner. After using a two-step cleaner, seal it to preserve the color as described in Tip 7.
Tip 6: Teak Oils
Teak has a large amount of natural oils and waxes which is why it is so durable. If you are leaving your teak natural, you generally only need to wash it for annual cleaning. However, after 5 years or so, your outdoor teak furniture may be starting to show dryness or some cracking in the grain. If so, you will want to oil it. Teak oil is generally either linseed or tung oil and can be found in hardware and home improvement stores. You should try to use the same type and brand of teak oil each time as mixing them can lead to uneven mottling.
Oil can also be used as a protectant to keep the honey-gold color of your outdoor teak furniture. However, using this method requires more frequent applications (three to six times a year depending on climate) as opposed to using a teak sealer which protects your outdoor teak furniture for a longer period of time. Warning: Don’t apply oil if you plan on sealing your teak furniture in the near future as the excess oil will interfere with the adhesion of the sealant.
When oiling you generally need two or three coats. Make sure your furniture is completely dry and apply the first coat liberally with a soft cloth. It will probably sink in fast. Wait an hour or two and then apply a second coat wiping any excess oil off as you go. If this sinks in quickly as well, add a third coat.
Tip 7: Teak Sealers and Preservatives
Applying a teak sealer (also called teak preservative) is the easiest way to maintain the honey gold color of your teak furniture. Look for a sealant with UV protection for best color protection. Semco is the brand I have used before and can recommend. It requires two coats with about an hour drying time between coats. Follow the directions on any teak sealer you use.
If you have brand new outdoor teak furniture, keep it outside for a couple weeks to allow the excess natural oils to dry out a bit before sealing. Also, if you have recently applied oil to teak, it needs to sit for several weeks. Sealants should always be applied to clean, dry teak furniture. Once sealed, you simply need to clean your outdoor teak furniture with mild detergent and water on a yearly basis and repeat the sealant process every one to two years as needed.
Sealants protect the color of teak but still allow the teak to breathe, so stains and spills can still penetrate a sealant. Wipe up any spills when they occur or apply a clear coat for protection on table tops as described in Tip 8 below.
Tip 8: Teak Clear Coats
If you have kids or frequent spills on your teak table top and want extra protection, consider using a clear coat. This is applied over a sealant. However, only apply to your table top, not to other parts of your furniture because if your outdoor teak furniture ever needs to be refinished, the clear coat complicates the process because it needs to be specially cleaned. Semco also makes a teak clear coat product.
Tip 9: Teak varnishes
A varnish is also a long-term teak protectant solution. However, it is not generally required for teak furniture and most often used on boats exposed to much harsher elements. It is difficult to apply and is overkill for outdoor teak furniture used for residential purposes. If you want to lacquer your teak, you may want to consult a professional However, as recommended in Tip 8 above, a sealant offers plenty of protection for keeping your teak honey gold color and is easier to use.
Tip 10: Never, Ever do this when Cleaning Outdoor Teak Furniture
Although teak is highly durable and relatively care-free, you should never use steel wool on teak. The steel wool particles can break off and imbed in the wood and then rust leaving unsightly red-orange spots. Also never use a pressure hose. It can strip away the natural protectors in your teak and damage it.
If you follow these ten tips for cleaning your outdoor teak furniture, you will enjoy its beauty for many years to come!
Sources: Semco teak products
