Cleaning Teak Outdoor Furniture

Every spring we are faced with the daunting task of cleaning our outdoor furniture. If your outdoor furniture is made of teak, you may be especially perplexed about how to clean it. Cleaning teak furniture is much simpler than you might think. First you must make a decision; realizing that teak outdoor furniture reflects your aesthetic or tastes. Do you want this furniture to acquire a natural patina or do you prefer the warm honey tone your newly purchased furniture had? By selecting one of these looks, you can now begin to clean and care for your furniture.

When shopping for best teak outdoor furniture, if you selected the natural silver gray patina most teak furniture gets after about nine months of continuous outdoor exposure, then cleaning the furniture is all you will have to do.  Clean the teak with a 2/1 solution of mild detergent and bleach mixed with water. Wet the furniture thoroughly first, apply the soapy solution with a soft bristled brush and a sponge, wipe it clean with the sponge, use the brush to scrub away stubborn dirt, and then rinse with a hose.

You may have decided you prefer the warm honey toned wood. If so, there is a little bit more work involved in keeping it that color. To keep the color brown, you will need to apply teak protector, not teak oil. Teak oil will preserve the color, but has to be reapplied every three months and can become overwhelming. Instead, apply the teak protector and the next application will not be until next year. The other reason why oil is troublesome is it attracts mildew, may cause the color to be irregular and often makes the color too dark. When it is time to clean the furniture, use the same technique as you would on the teak with a patina finish.

Cleaning teak outdoor furniture cushions starts with unzipping the covers and removing the foam cushions. Patio furniture cushions usually come with machine washable covers. Read the care label to determine the washing directions. Dry the cushions as directed. Decide if they look acceptable to you after being pulled from the dryer or lined dried. Press them if needed. Now your outdoor spring-cleaning is done and you are ready to enjoy your teak furniture.