Many people love the warm, elegant look of Teak furniture. Untreated, it will age to a sliver-gray tone with a raised grain. Regardless of whether you let it age naturally or treat it to maintain that warm soft texture, you must keep it clean! To do this, you simply need to hand wash it with a mild soap and warm water. I recommend that you do not pressure wash Teak, as this may damage the wood. Using 
steel wool will leave behind tiny particles that may embed into the furniture and begin to rust. Wire brushes and other abrasive materials may damage the wood. Therefore, hand washing with a soft rag or sponge is the best means of washing Teak outdoor furniture. If you have some stubborn stains, use a very fine grade sandpaper, sanding with the grain. If your Teak furniture has aged naturally, sanding will restore the sanded area to the fresh Teak color and shade, but this will gradually fade into the naturally aged silver gray.
If you prefer to keep your Teak garden, patio and outdoor furniture looking like new, there are several options available. However, before using any of the following methods, you should thoroughly wash the furniture and let it dry completely.
- Wood Sealer - wood sealers block the pores of the wood keeping dirt and moisture out. To keep the warm colors of Teak, use
a sealer with ultra violet (UV) inhibitors. UV rays are what cause the change in color. If you use a wood sealer, you should apply it at least annually.
- Stain - many different colors of stain are available. Some with and some without UV inhibitors. To keep the natural warm shades of your Teak furniture, two coats of a clear stain with UV inhibitors should be applied annually. However, keep in mind that any "stain" is permanent, so if you decide to use a stain with color, you are stuck with it..
- Oil - Teak or linseed oil is not recommended for Teak outdoor furniture as the excess oil may cause mildew on the furniture. Also, oil will not keep the Teak from changing to the silver gray color. It will only slow down the natural aging process and repel water. However, there are some instances in which a light coat of Teak Oil may be necessary (i.e. after sanding naturally aged Teak down to the original warm amber shade or after the natural oils have depleted).
Instead of Teak Oil, we recommend TeakGuard.
- Paint - painting Teak outdoor furniture is not recommended. All paint will eventually blister and peel. Paint traps moisture in the wood. If you wish to change the color of your Teak garden, patio and outdoor furniture, consider staining it.
- Sanding - sanding your Teak outdoor furniture with a very fine grade sandpaper will return it back to its original shade. Be sure to sand with the grain and have plenty of sandpaper on hand. Since Teak wood naturally contains oil, the sandpaper will
quickly fill up with wood particles and you will find yourself sanding harder and longer if you do not grab another piece of sandpaper. Once the desired results are accomplished, put a very light coat of Teak oil on the furniture, making sure to wipe away any excess.
Whether you let your Teak outdoor furniture age naturally or prefer to keep the warm color and tones it had at the time of purchases, it will be something you will enjoy with your family and friends for a very long time.
