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And, what does the oil do? And, last question is do you need to cover teak furniture in bad weather or when not using the furniture?

Teak is very hard and can withstand the weather very well. The oil puts back the natural oil that gets soaked up by the sun, every couple years or when it starts looking light colored apply a liberal coat. Good luck Les the painter

2007-03-19 16:26:37 by Sarina W

Atlanta Teak Furniture (www.atlantateak.com) owner Matt Smith being interviewed by CNN in September 2006 for a conference in New York City ...

Our teak furniture is looking dirty or mildewy. I am wondering how to make it look clean or more fresh looking. It is only a year old.

My recommended way to clean teak patio furniture is to mix in a bucket a 3 parts mild laundry detergent with one part bleach mixture with water.

Now wash the furniture using a soft bristle brush. Do not use a hard bristle brush as it may damage the furniture. After you have given the furniture a good scrub with the cleaning mix rinse the entire piece of furniture to make sure all dirt is removed.

2007-05-29 10:51:15 by Joe M

Price: $175.00 $129.99

All-weather, hardwood bench with removable cushions for outdoor or indoor use
No oiling required, unless to maintain desired color; wood weathers to handsome gray
Measures 47-1/2 inches wide by 28 inches deep by 35 inches tall; weighs 31 pounds

I've read a lot of the questions and answers on here about mould and gather that bleach can be used for removing mould from walls, etc. Is it safe to use a bleach solution to clean a white mould off my teak furniture or will this permanently stain the wood? If this is the case, can anyone suggest something that wouldn't damage the wood?

There really isn't any secret to cleaning teak except that it requires some elbow grease (nobody has figured out how to package that yet)..

How NOT to clean teak...

* With a powerwasher - Powerwashers just blast away dirt and expose raw wood. Not only is this rough on your teak, it also doesn't kill the mold and mildew spores in the wood.
* With household bleach - Bleach is not strong enough to kill the mold and mildew spores in the wood.
* With tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) - As with bleach, TSP isn't going to kill the micro-organisms living in the wood.

The right way to clean teak...

To clean teak, all you really need is a bottle of "teak cleaner". These products are formulated to kill the mold and mildew and restore the natural wood color. There are generally two types of teak cleaners, one-part and two-part cleaners.

One-part cleaners come in a single bottle and use a mild chemical to clean the wood. We prefer one-part cleaners because they are much gentler on both the teak wood and won't damage your boat gelcoat or paint. Because they are relatively mild, you need to work the cleaner into the wood with a bristle brush and let it sit for 5-15 minutes before rinsing it off. While rinsing the wood, use bronze wool to rub the surface (in the direction of the wood grain). This opens up the pores of the wood to remove all of the cleaner ensure that the wood is as clean as possible.

Two-part cleaners come in two bottles and typically consist of a harsh acid and a neutralizer. The first part (the acid) chemically cleans the wood, killing the mold and mildew spores and removing the black and gray color. This step works faster and requires less work than for one-part cleaners, but the harsh acid also raises the wood grain (making your wood rougher) and can eat away your gelcoat and bottom paint. The second part is a neutralizer which counteracts the acid, allowing you to rinse off the teak safely. We generally discourage the use of two-part cleaners because of the damage they can do to your teak, your boat and the environment.

Treating and Protecting Teak

After your teak is clean and dry, it's time to apply something to the wood to give it a nice appearance that (hopefully) will last. Teak oils penetrate into the wood and replenish the oil supply while teak sealers coat the wood and provide a barrier to the outside environment. These treatments have different advantages and disadvantages, so let's look at them in more detail. We'll also discuss TeakGuard, our recommended alternative to oils and sealers.

Teak Oils

Teak has traditionally been treated using organic oils, although an replacement for teak oil is available that overcomes many of the problems with organics. The organic oils replenish the oil removed from the wood by the environment and the cleaning process, restoring a nice satiny finish to the wood. Because the oils do not seal the surface, the treated teak is not slippery and is suitable for walkways, steps, etc.

However, remember why the teak was cleaned in the first place. Mold and mildew spores were feeding upon the teak oil and turning the surface black or gray. When you oil teak, you are also providing more food for the mold and mildew. Consequently, you have to re-clean and re-coat your teak several times a season (on average). Another problem with organic oils is that they stain fiberglass, so be careful and use tape to mask off your fiberglass.

Teak Sealers

Teak sealers try to seal the wood surface from the environment in order to maintain the appearance of the wood and (sometimes) provide a glossy finish. The traditional material for sealing teak has been varnish or polyurethanes. The main drawback with sealers is that they will eventually break down and begin to flake off. The sealer must then be sanded off (lots of work!). While sealers may look good initially, they can also require a lot of maintenance and even more work to remove them.

2008-09-16 04:58:49 by angelarwen

Price: $189.99 $119.99

Weathers to a warm gray or color can be maintained using teak oil
Mortise and tenon construction with rust-resistant hardware
Dimensions: 73 3/8" L x 25 5/8" W x 12 3/8" H

I'm looking at both Brazilian cherry and Teak furniture and was wondering which one is better. I've noticed that Teak furniture is more expensive. Any advice?

not sure about the cherry but the teak will last a lilifetime. it has natural oils in it that keeps it from rotting. and insects do not like it at all. it will turn a nice shade of gray if you do not put a finish on it. hope this helped with half of your question

2007-04-11 13:56:49 by cath

I know teak is extremely popular in the outdoor furniture world. Does anyone know why, or does anyone own teak furniture and can tell me what makes it so special?

Hard wood. Lasts forever. With stands the elements very well if outside.

2008-12-11 09:04:56 by Melinda