Teak Care and Maintenance
Quality teak outdoor furniture requires little to no care and will maintain its strength and attractiveness for decades. The beauty is two-fold: natural elegance and carefree durability. Whether your wood furniture finds its way to the garden, deck, patio or poolside, simply sit back, relax and enjoy its gracious response to the elements. Below are guidelines, which if followed properly, will allow your furniture to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.
The Weathering Process
Outdoors, the rich, warm glow of new teak softens over several seasons to the hallmark silvery gray of aged teak. This sign of “age” in your furniture is actually a testament to its ability to endure whatever Mother Nature dishes out, as the cured outer surface creates a valuable layer of protection for the oil-rich hardwood. This aging process depends on the amount of sunlight and rain exposure. The end result is furniture with a timeless appeal. During the weathering process a slight “checking” or lifting of the grain may occur on the top edges of the arms and legs. You may even notice a few small cracks. This is perfectly natural, as wood expands and contracts slightly when left outdoors. The grain will return to its original smooth finish after the initial weathering process and has no affect on the stability of the furniture in any way. To aid this process, simply clean the furniture with a soft bristle brush or sponge. Water spots or other discoloration may also occur during the weathering process. These will even out, and the furniture will achieve a uniform silver-gray.
Cleaning
Your furniture will appear polished when first assembled. Wipe lightly with a damp cloth to remove any dust from the manufacturing process. The polished appearance comes from oil occurring naturally in the wood. The oil on the surface will evaporate after a few days outdoors – it is the oil that remains below the surface that gives the wood its durability. The only maintenance necessary for your teak furniture is periodic cleaning. This should be done with a solution of four parts laundry detergent and one part bleach in water. Use a soft bristle brush. When you are finished, rinse the entire piece to remove the dirt and any remaining solution. For deeper cleaning – grease, red wine stain etc. – we recommend the use of teak cleaner. This will remove the silver gray patina and restore the furniture’s original color.
Teak Cleaner and Protector
Should you prefer to keep the furniture a golden color, teak protector is a purely cosmetic application. This product will maintain the color for a season and can be reapplied as needed. Once the furniture has been assembled you should wait two weeks prior to applying the protector. We recommend you try the teak protector on a small area of your furniture first, such as the back of a leg or the underside of a chair to be certain you are happy with the results. Follow the instructions on the label.
Teak cleaner will remove the silver gray patina. The cleaner will restore the furniture to a natural golden color. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND USING TEAK OIL on outdoor furniture because of the maintenance involved in cleaning and reapplying the product. Oiling outdoor teak may cause mildew or irregular coloring.
Winter Storage
In the best of circumstances, your furniture will be stored in a basement or storage space. If this is not possible, we strongly recommend covering your furniture with quality furniture covers available at Casual Marketplace. Be certain your have thoroughly cleaned and dried your furniture before storing at season’s end.
Note
You must retain your original sales receipt for future reference. You will need item numbers, frame finish and fabric information to order replacement parts for your furniture, file any warranty claims or add matching pieces to your existing collection.
