If teak garden furniture becomes dirty it is easily cleaned with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush. If necessary, especially for persistent stains or mould, a pressure hose can be used at a distance of about 30cm. If you allow wooden furniture to weather, the softened colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub down in spring, at which point a few drops bleach added to the water will suppress any algae growth.
Wine stains and grease spots can be removed if you immediately wash the wood, using a light detergent then rinsing with clean water.
In dry and hot weather small cracks may appear in the end of the grain timbers. This is a natural process and no action needs to be taken unless the cracks become very bad - when moisture level in the atmosphere increases the timber will swell again. If the cracks are large, it is evidence of poor wood being used or two planks joined together, in this case you may want to wrap the area in a damp cloth to swell the timbers and then, after 24 hours, apply a wax polish to trap the moisture inside to prevent further damage.
It is not necessary to use teak oil or varnish - despite all the claims, they do not extend the life of your garden furniture and are purely cosmetic. However, if you wish to preserve the brand new appearance of your garden furniture the application of teak oil when the furniture is new will add lustre. This is a three stage process and failure to follow the instructions carefully can result in sticky wood for months. Make sure the timber is completely dry when you apply the teak oil, and will remain so for at least 48 hours or the furniture may develop black patches.
Barbecue ... Benches ... Best Use ... Buying Furniture ... Cane ... Looking after Metal Furniture ... Looking after Plastic Furniture ... Looking after Upholstered Furniture ... Looking after Wood Furniture ... Childrens Furniture ... Conservatory Furniture ... Environment ... Hammocks ... Harmonising Furniture ... Heating ... Lighting ... Material Furniture ... Modern Vs Antique ... Outdoor Eating ... Personalising Furniture ... Poolside Furniture ... Secondhand Furniture ... Theme ... Patio Umbrella ... Winter Garden Furniture