10 Tips to Elongate the Life of Your Teak Furniture

Life of your teak furniture can be increased manifold if appropriate care is taken. It is a valuable investment worth preserving for many years. New teak furniture must only be bought from reputed manufacturers who have made use of high grade teak from environment friendly plantations.

Teak furniture is commonly used for outdoor comfort. Here are some of the tips to elongate the life of your favourite hardwood.

1. Do not oil- Good quality teak does not require any preservatives for longevity. Oiling outside teak doesn’t increase life of your teak furniture, but instead makes it susceptible to mildew growth. New furniture appears smooth and polished due to the presence of oil in teak. This oil is always below the surface and keeps wood strong and durable.
2. Greying of furniture is natural– After a few months of being in the open, you will notice grey discolouring on the surface of teak, do not worry, as this is a perfectly natural process. Over time, wood expands and contracts as per the elements of nature. Texture will gradually even out and teak furniture will ultimately be visible in grey.
3. Periodic cleaning– Many owners believe in periodic cleaning, which prevents the accumulation of dirt. Life of your teak furniture can be enhanced when warm water is used for cleaning and washing. However, water under high pressure is not recommended. Tri Sodium Phosphate (TSP) is used for heavy cleaning.Another method used to prevent damage is covering of teak furniture. These covers must have good ventilation, as plastic covers often choke the wood.

   

4. Removal of stains– Removal of stains and scrapes must only be done with sandpaper. This allows furniture to repel food and other stains. Teak cleaner and Teak protector are available in the market.
5. Check owner manual- Teak furniture always comes with an owner’s manual. Make sure you keep it in a place where it can be located. There may be a special process of cleaning which would be given here.
6. Use oil if furniture to be used indoors– Linseed and Tung oils are most suitable for maintaining the honey colour of teak furniture. If oiling is done from the beginning, maintaining original colour will not be much of a problem.
   
7. Cleaning with steel wool– Tools such as steel wool and sandpaper are ideal for cleaning teak furniture. They do not leave marks on the surface. Soft bristled brushes may also be used with soapy water.
8. Do not use too many chemicals– Teak is a very stable wood and does not need too many chemicals for restoration. You must be confused with the variety of shiners and polishes available in the market. Ointments in the form of oils should be helpful to enhance the life of your teak furniture.
9. Sealing only after three months– Teak furniture must have been present in one location since three months for it to set into environment prior to sealing, which prevents formation of grainy texture.
10. Keeping away teak during winter is not necessary– Teak remains best when exposed to natural environment for the longest period of time. Cleaning a few times a year will get rid of dust or mildew.