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If you have teakwood inside your home or office, it may already have a stain or finish on it. If it does have a finish, all that you need to maintain your teak is to occasionally wash off everyday dirt with warm soapy water and a clean cloth.
A lot of teak is left unfinished because teakwood contains its own oil. This oil not only protects the wood from moisture and rot, but over time continues to give teakwood its rich golden color. Because teakwood has its own oil finish, you only need to clean your teak with mild soap and water to remove everyday soil and grime. Occasionally, though, you may wish to rub additional oil into your teak. This is particularly true if you live in an arid, dry climate. Natural teak oil can easily be found at your local hardware or home improvement center. After cleaning your teak with soap and water, apply a light coating of teak oil to your teak. This application will not need to be reapplied for a year or two. -
Because of its durability, teakwood often gets used outdoors. Exposed to sun, teak will, over time, lose its golden color and turn a lovely grayish silver color. Many teak owners prefer this natural occurrence, and if you do, then you need not do anything with your outdoor teak.
But, if you wish to retain the original golden brown color of your teak, you can periodically apply additional teak oil or varnish your outdoor teak. A sealant can also be used or a combination of varnish, followed by a sealant after the varnish has thoroughly dried.
Even though teak can withstand any type of weather, from extreme heat to bitter cold, snow and rain, it is advisable to move your teak outdoor furniture into a shelter or cover it with tarps over the winter months. Doing this will avoid any possibility of water entering a crack or crevice, freezing and cracking, splitting or breaking part of your furniture.
For the most part, once you have purchased teak, enjoy it with no further care. It will last for many, many years.
