Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Treat indoor furniture with oil
• Method 2 of 2: Maintain teak furniture
• Warnings

Teak is one of the most durable woods and does not need any special treatment to stay strong. However, if left untreated, the wood will fade and turn a light brown color before turning silver gray. By regularly treating the teak with oil, the original golden brown color is preserved. Please note that it is not recommended to treat teak garden furniture and furniture with oil in humid environments as the oil can cause mold to grow.

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Method 1 of 2: Treat indoor furniture with oil

1. Understand the pros and cons of oil. Applying teak oil will keep the furniture shiny brown, and scratches and other damage that may occur will be less visible because the surface looks just like the interior of the wood. However, once you have applied oil, you will need to apply oil to the furniture at least once every three months to keep it looking good. If you never apply oil to a piece of furniture, it can remain beautiful and sturdy for decades.
   • Warning: Manufacturers of teak furniture strongly advise against treating garden furniture and furniture that is stored in humid environments with oil. The chance is greater that mold will grow in the wood because by using oil you create a situation in which fungi will grow faster.
2. Prepare your workplace and gather your supplies. Place a cloth or newspaper under the teak furniture to catch any spilled oil. Wear gloves to avoid getting oil on your hands or you could get skin irritation. Most teak oils are not very toxic, but long-term exposure to this oil can cause health problems. It is therefore recommended to work in a well-ventilated area. Keep the teak oil away from heat, as the oil can be highly flammable. Get some clean old rags to use to oil the furniture.
3. If necessary, clean the furniture and let it dry. If the furniture is cleaned regularly, dust it off thoroughly. If it looks dirty, feels sticky and you see caked on dirt, wash the furniture with water and a mild cleaner or special teak cleaner. See the section on teak maintenance for more information.
   • Warning: After cleaning, dry the furniture and leave it for 24-36 hours to allow all moisture to evaporate before applying the oil. Even if the moisture has dried on the surface, there may still be moisture under the surface that will remain in the wood due to the oil, which will change the color of the wood and reduce the lifespan of the wood.
4. Choose teak oil or teak lacquer. The teak oil that you use in this treatment is not made from the teak tree and not every type of teak oil has the same composition. Of all the ingredients that teak oil often contains, tung oil or Chinese wood oil is probably better than linseed oil. Teak oil sometimes contains artificial colors and sometimes lacquer or varnish has been added, so read the packaging carefully before choosing a product. You usually need to apply teak lacquer less often than teak oil, but it works in about the same way.
5. Use a paintbrush to apply the teak oil. Use a wide paint brush to coat the wood with even strokes of oil. Continue to apply oil until the furniture has become dull and can no longer absorb oil.
6. Wait 15 minutes and then wipe the wood with a cloth. Let the oil soak into the wood. You may notice that the surface of the wood becomes tacky as the wood underneath soaks up the oil. When this happens or 15 minutes has passed, wipe the furniture with a clean cloth. Make sure to wipe off any excess oil. When the surface is dry, you can use a second clean cloth to polish the surface.
7. Wipe up spilled oil and drips with mineral oil. Dampen a clean cloth with mineral oil to wipe off excess oil and drips. Teak oil can stain other furniture and the floor if you don't wipe it off immediately.
8. Re-oil regularly. The color of the furniture will fade if you don't reapply oil regularly. Re-oil once every few weeks or months when the color and shine of the furniture fades. You can apply another coat to give the furniture a deeper color, but do this only when the surface of the furniture is completely dry to the touch.

Method 2 of 2: Maintain teak furniture

1. Just dust the furniture from time to time if you like the natural color. It is not bad for your furniture if you let the wood fade until it has a light brown color and eventually takes on an old, silvery color. If you like this and prefer low maintenance, dust the teak furniture regularly and wash it occasionally when dirt and moss builds up.
   • During the aging process, the teak furniture may first become irregular in color and small cracks appear to appear in the wood. This should change over time.
2. Clean the teak furniture if you want to restore the old color. You can scrub the furniture with a soft brush and warm, soapy water to temporarily give it a slightly brighter color. Do not use a stiff brush or a high-pressure cleaner as this can damage the wood.
3. Use a teak cleaner to clean the wood more thoroughly. You can use a special cleaning agent, or a teak cleaner, if you cannot remove the dirt with soap and water and give the furniture a lighter color. There are basically two types of teak cleaner for sale.
   • A teak cleaner with a component is easy and safe to apply. Scrub the agent into the wood for about 15 minutes with a soft brush. Rinse the wood gently with clean water and use a scouring pad or bronze wool to open the pores of the wood and remove the cleaner. Do not use steel wool, as this can discolor the teak.
   • A teak cleaner with two components is more aggressive and can affect the texture of the teak and make it less durable. However, it works faster and can dissolve stubborn dirt. Apply the first part, an acid, to the wood and wait according to the directions on the package. Scrub the second part, an acid neutralizing agent, into the wood, making sure to treat the entire piece of furniture.
4. Apply clear varnish to protect the wood from damage. If the teak furniture piece is used a lot and in a place that is used a lot, you can protect it against stains and damage before use. When the wood is dry, you can apply a transparent, protective lacquer that forms a hard layer on the surface of the teak wood. It differs per brand what such a product is called and how it should be applied. Look for teak protectors or clear varnish for teak and follow the directions on the package.
   • There is disagreement as to whether it is good to use both oil and varnish as some people think the combination is bad for the wood. However, some cleaner manufacturers recommend using both products.
5. Consider covering the teak furniture when not in use. One of the advantages of teak is that it is very durable, which means that it is usually not necessary to protect the wood. However, putting a porous fabric over the furniture like canvas will make it easier to clean. Never use a plastic or vinyl rug, as this will leave moisture on the wood.
6. Lightly sand away stains. Some stains, such as red wine and coffee stains, can be difficult to remove with soap and water. Instead, sand the top layer of the wood with a piece of sandpaper of medium grit size. Then smooth the surface with fine sandpaper when the stain is gone. After sanding, the furniture will have a brighter color as the inner part of the wood still contains natural oils.

Warnings

• Teak oil can stain your patio and your clothes. Take precautions to protect your belongings. For example, put cardboard under the furniture before you start working with teak oil and wear an apron and gloves to protect your clothes and skin.
• Teak oil is highly flammable. Dispose of cloths that have gotten on teak oil in a trash can away from heat sources.