Maintenance Manual
Tips / Instructions for maintaining Teak furniture:
- DIRT
It is a good idea from time to time to clean all the dust and dirt off the visible surfaces of the wood. Use a dry, clean cloth and dust your teak furniture like any other furniture. Do this weekly to prolong the life of your finish. If the furniture is extra dirty, try using a moist cloth. Periodically or when needed, you can hose down your furniture, paying careful attention to clean the underneath of the furniture. Be sure to wipe down the furniture afterward and do not leave any standing water on the teak. - WATER STAINS
Drinks, sprinklers and chlorine will all leave water marks on your teak furniture. Use a coaster at the table. If the sprinklers are hitting your furniture you will damage the teak. Try to adjust the sprinklers so they do not hit the furniture. Please dry off before sitting on your teak furniture. In order to help prevent water marks, simply wipe areas where water collects. If you require extra protection on your table tops, then consider clear coating. - STAINS
To remove dried food particles or oil or grease stains that may not come of with a damp cloth, try using diluted Simple Green cleaner. If the stain persists, you may sand the stain out with 150-grit sandpaper. You will need to reseal the area that was sanded. Call our office and we can ship you a quart of your chosen sealer. - DRIPS
The morning dew and a wet environment can cause drips on your teak furniture. Simply rub the drips using light pressure. Sometimes, new teak can leach natural oils. This is natural and these drips can be removed with a light grit sand paper if the wet rag does not work. You will need to reseal the area that was sanded. Call our office and we can ship you a quart of your chosen sealer. - CANDLE WAX
Scrape as much of the candle wax off the furniture with a spatula. Then place a sheet of paper over the wax stain. Put a dry cloth on top of the paper and then with a warm iron, go over the wax stain to transfer the wax onto the paper. Once it is transferred, use a light grit sand paper to remove the remainder of the wax from the wood. You will need to reseal the area that was sanded. Call our office and we can ship you a quart of your chosen sealer. - RESEAL
Your teak furniture needs to be resealed every six months to a year depending on the environment and exposure to the sun. Please call our office to schedule a reseal appointment or if you are confused about the condition and timing of resealing your teak furniture. Please call to schedule a free consultation. - DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE
Teak furniture does demand attention. - BRASS or STAINLESS
A light polishing with Brasso or some other metal cleaner and a soft rag can keep the metal looking great. If the brass or stainless gets very tarnished, you can use steel wool or a 3M pad to remove the heavy tarnish before you polish it. - COVERS
Covering your teak can extend its life and look and keeps your furniture clean. Please use covers that allow proper ventilation and are equipped for the environment. Plastic, vinyl, canvas, and many other materials may cause mold and mildew issues because they lock in moisture. If you use covers be sure to take them off at least once a week to prevent mold and mildew to build up on your furniture. Let the furniture air out for at least eight hours before you cover them again. Please see our website www.drteak.com/covers - MOLD
In certain damp environments mold may grow on exterior furniture. In most cases the mold will appear as small round black marks, and in extreme cases, as large black blemishes. If you have sealed the furniture, please call us immediately. If the furniture is unsealed or it has been a while since you last sealed it, use a mixture of bleach and water and wipe the mold or mildew areas repeatedly with the solution. Let it dry in the sun and then hose the area with fresh water. Sand and seal the furniture with marine grade sealer to prevent future mold or mildew from growing.