Outdoor Teak Furniture Care

Outdoor teak furniture has become very popular these days because of the natural beauty of the wood. However, apart from its aesthetic appeal, there are various other benefits of choosing this wood. Teak contains natural oils in order to survive in the rainforest where it grows, hence it is naturally resistant to outdoor elements, insects, and rot. Consequently, even though teak furniture is generally a little more expensive compared to oak, redwood, or cedar, its natural durability and strength makes it well worth it.

Teak furniture is made of a tropical hardwood, which has a rich, honey hue, when it is new. But, as the teak ages, along with exposure to the elements, it begins getting a patina of silver gray. As a matter of fact, this is exactly how outdoor teak furniture that has aged finely can be distinguished. The thing with teak is that if this silver gray patina is left on the furniture, without it being treated, it is not possible to get back the original honey color of the wood.

Even though the change in the color does not make a difference to the durability and strength of the furniture, it does make a difference to its looks. Hence, if you are thinking of getting yourself outdoor teak furniture, you need to decide whether you want it to become silver gray as it weathers or maintain its original honey brown color.

Use Teak Protector On Your Outdoor Teak Furniture

Teak manufacturing experts recommend applying a teak protector if you want to maintain the original golden brown color of your outdoor teak furniture. This teak protector helps in maintaining the color of the furniture for a single season, after which it needs to be reapplied.

However, it is not recommended to use teak oil on outdoor teak furniture due to the high maintenance that is involved in the process. The teak oil will have to be reapplied every three months so that the brown finish is maintained. Experts are also of the opinion that oiling outdoor teak furniture can cause irregular coloring or mildew.

The process of graying, when the furniture is left outdoors without the teak oil or teak protector, takes about nine months, depending on the exposure to elements like the sun and rain. If you like this naturally weathered look, then the only care required for your outdoor teak furniture is regular cleaning.

Use a Cleaning Solution To Maintain Your Outdoor Teak Furniture

A solution made of a 25:75 mixture of a bleach with a mild detergent in water is ideal for this cleaning purpose, which can be done with a soft bristle brush. Once the furniture is cleaned, the entire piece should be rinsed thoroughly to get rid of all the cleaning solution or dirt residue. This method of cleaning is quite adequate, both for your weathered furniture as well as the golden brown ones.

These days, you can also get products, known as teak cleaner, which can be used to bring back the natural color of teak furniture if it has been allowed to weather into its silver gray color. Irrespective of how long the furniture has been left outside, they can be restored to their original honey brown color using the teak cleaner. This restorative process is quite easy without requiring any hard scrubbing.

Avoid Painting Or Staining Your Outdoor Teak Furniture

Some people opt for painting or staining their outdoor teak furniture. However, teakwood furniture experts frown on this practice, as the natural oil that occurs in the wood will prevent the stain or paint adhering to it. But, if you do want to stain or paint your outdoor teak, it is best to get expert advice about what is recommended to be used.

While outdoor teak furniture is left outside all year round by some people, others think it is better to bring them indoors during inclement weather conditions. But, if you do decide to keep your teakwood furniture outside, then you need to ensure that pools of water does not collect on the furniture or that it is not kept on wet ground. However, the best part of teak furniture is that, because it is a hardwood, it is resistant to swelling, shrinkage, and warping. Plus, its natural oil preserves the furniture, without the smooth finish splintering, resulting in it looking wonderfully beautiful for many years. With proper care, your outdoor teak furniture will last a long time indeed.