Our products are made from solid Teak wood. Teak wood contains oils which gives the furniture it’s longevity and durability and is well known to be able to withstand all weather conditions without treatment.
On this page you will be able to find information about cleaning and caring for your furniture.
We’ve compiled this into an easy-to-download aftercare leaflet.
Using teak oils and sealants
Teak oils are used for maintaining the colour of the timber and preventing it from turning to a silvery grey, they are only colourants and they sit on the surface of the furniture and will need to be reapplied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We would advise to wash the furniture down and allow to fully dry before applying any treatments.
Teak sealants do not have a colourant in them, so they are a good way of sealing the wood but again, wash the furniture down and allow to fully dry before applying following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Please note that the application of sealants or oils will invalidate your rights to return, please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.
Cleaning teak
There really is not any secret to cleaning teak except that it requires some elbow grease (nobody has figured out how to package that yet).
There are basically two reasons to clean teak.
First, you want to remove the black and/or grey colour (actually mould & mildew) from the wood and get a more natural look.
Second, you need to kill all the mould and mildew spores present so they will not continue to eat the natural teak oil and discolour the wood.
Warm water with some washing up liquid is the best way to clean the furniture using a nylon scouring pad or a stiff scrubbing brush.
For stubborn stains, using a mild solution of bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice applying to the stained area using gently rubbing in the direction of the grain and ensuring the mixture has been fully washed off after applying.
Teak cleaners
Alternatively, you could use a bottle of “teak cleaner”. These products are formulated to kill the mould and mildew and restore the natural wood colour. 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. 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 mould and mildew spores and removing the black and grey colour. 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). 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 and the environment.
Teak “checking”
Once your new furniture is placed outside it will go through a settling process. The wood will expand and contract due to weather changes, this is a term known as checking and it is something we would expect. Small cracks may appear during this process and should not be of any concern, if you wish to treat them please contact us.
Storing and covering
We use teak as it is a strong, durable wood and can withstand all weather conditions and can be left outside with little or no treatment. Structurally, it will be sound but it will change colour. You can purchase a breathable weather cover to limit mould and colour fading, it is important that the cover is breathable and not PVC otherwise the wood will sweat.
Our team are always on hand to advise and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or queries.
