Teak Furniture - The Proper Way to Care For & Clean It

Teak furniture is tropical hardwood that has a rich, golden honey color when new. However, as teak begins to age and is exposed to the elements, the natural, beautiful color changes to a silvery gray patina. In fact, this is how you can distinguish finely aged outdoor teak furniture! The key with teak is that if you were to leave this silvery gray color on the teak furniture without being treated, you would never be able to get the lustrous honey, caramel back.

Although the color change does not affect the strength and durability of the piece, it does give your teak furniture a whole new look. Therefore, if you are going to own outdoor (or indoor) teak furniture you first want to decide if you want to maintain the original golden brown color or let your teak furniture acquire a silver gray patina as it weathers.

To extend the beautification of the lustrous honey color, a leading teak manufacturer, Kingsley-Bate, recommends using a teak protector. Their teak protector is a "cosmetic application" and helps the furniture maintain its color for a season. Reapply as needed.

Kingsley-Bate does not recommend using a teak oil on outdoor furniture because of the high maintenance involved in this process. Every three months, teak oil will need to be reapplied to maintain the brown finish. Kingsley-Bate also states "oiling outdoor furniture may cause mildew or irregular coloring."

When left outdoors without a teak protector or teak oil, your furniture will turn silvery-gray. This process takes approximately 9 months and depends on the exposure to certain elements such as rain and sun. If this is look you wish to maintain, the only care needed for your teak furniture is a periodic cleaning.

The recommended cleaning solution is a 75/25 mixture of a mild laundry detergent with bleach in water. Only a soft bristle brush should be used. When your teak furniture is clean, rinse the entire piece well enough to remove any dirt or cleaning solution residue. This process is adequate for general cleaning of your furniture regardless if it is golden brown or has weathered.

Kingsley-Bate offers a product for those who allowed their teak furniture to weather to a silver gray and now want to return it to the original color. Regardless of how long your furniture is outside, Kingsley-Bate's teak cleaner will restore your furniture to the honey brown color. The process is simple and does not require heavy scrubbing.

Some people want to stain or paint their teak furniture. Manufacturers frown upon this as the natural oil occurring in the teak prevents the paint or stain to adhere to the wood. If you absolutely must have your teak furniture painted or stained, you should go to your local marina store and confirm what they recommend to use.

While some people will allow their teak furniture to remain outdoors all year long, there are those that recommend it be brought indoors. However, if you do keep it out, then make sure it does not sit on wet ground and that puddles of water are not allowed to pool on the furniture. But the great thing about teak is that since it is a dense hardwood, it naturally resists warping, shrinkage, swelling, and rot. In addition, it contains a high oil content the continually preserves the wood, which is why you can leave it outdoors without much problem. The smooth finish does not splinter and looks absolutely beautiful.

Teak furniture is luxury outdoor furniture. You want to make certain you take care of your investment properly as this is intended to last for years.

Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous furniture websites, makes it easy to find quality teak furniture by leading manufacturers such as Kingsley-Bate. Learn how to buy and care for your teak furniture by clicking the following link: http://www.MoreThanTeak.com.

---

Trust Your Plants - They Know How To Grow!

I've done a lot of container gardening over the years,... Read More

Rock Gardens - A Different Kind of Garden

Planting a Rock Garden is a great alternative to the... Read More

Fall is the Time to Get Your Garden Trees and Shrubs Ready for Winter: Heres What to Do

Tips for winter care of trees and shrubsWith the garden... Read More

Using Bulbs in Your Landscaping

Naturalized bulbs look beautiful in a wooded setting. You can... Read More

Marsh Marigold

The bright yellow flowers of the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)... Read More

Fountains of Refreshment

When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your... Read More

New for 2006 - Granite Flexible Preformed Rock Ponds

Traditionally, preformed ponds are large shells, which are extremely burdensome... Read More

Care of Dendrobium Orchids

DendrobiumsThis month I am focusing our attention to the care... Read More

Grow the BEST Tasting Tomatoes

Tired of tomatoes that are rock hard and taste like... Read More

Easy Care Of Phalaenopsis

Do you have a knack for being with moths? Most... Read More

Grow Organic Vegetables

There are more reasons than ever why anybody with access... Read More

Learn All About Feng Shui Money Trees

A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used... Read More

The Protea Family (Proteaceae)

The protea family (Proteaceae) includes a wide range of ground... Read More

Companion Planting

If you look closely at the natural landscape, you'll never... Read More

Nontoxic Pest Control for Your Home and Garden

Pesticides are toxic and, while often effective against pests, can... Read More

Understanding Weeds - But mostly How to Kill em

When I was a child, I loved to pick Dandelions.... Read More

Gardening Tips for Early - Mid July

Now we are fast approaching the hottest time of the... Read More

Tips For Successful Backyard Grape Growing

Growing grapes in the backyard or garden can be a... Read More

Herbs: Growing Your Own

The first thing you need to do when deciding to... Read More

Lawn Care Information

Recent lawn care information reports that a lot of us... Read More

How to Make Your Backyard a Wonderland Oasis

Home and garden accessories make the difference between house and... Read More

How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank

Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying,... Read More

The Heralded Teak Furniture Manufacturer: Kingsley-Bate

With an average lifespan of 75 years, teak wood has... Read More

Safety On Lawn Tractors

Every gardener riding a lawn tractor should be concerned about... Read More

Vegetable Growing for Beginners

If you have never grown vegetables before the first thing... Read More

About Window Ledge Gardening

The growing of flowering or foliage plants on window ledges... Read More

How to Grow a Pineapple

The first thing you need to grow a pineapple is... Read More

How To Prune Your Roses For Stunning Results

Pruning and deadheading are essential to proper rose care. Alas,... Read More

Koi Pond Aeration

To achieve Koi pond aeration, there are some things you... Read More

Slugging It Out In The Trenches

In an effort to introduce a shaft of sunlight into... Read More

Easy to Grow Roses

There are many different types of roses. If you are... Read More

Sculpture Can Bring Life to Your Garden

I should know: I've been a sculptor most of my... Read More

Teak Umbrella : Add the Final Touch to Your Patio

Okay, so you have agonized for weeks and finally went... Read More