Teak is a fantastic looking, durable wood, which makes it the perfect material for constructing outdoor furniture. However, even the best cared for teak furniture will begin to fade and look tired after some time outdoors. Below is a look at how to restore your teak outdoor furniture to its former glory.
Equipment You Will Need
- 2 Brushes
- 1 Pair of Rubber Gloves
- Steel Wool
- Household Detergent and Bleach
- 1 gallon bucket of warm water
- Teak Oil
- Polyurethane
Cleaning
Outdoor teak furniture will often suffer from a buildup of oxidation and dirt, which creates a silvery layer on the wood. Mold and mildew can also accumulate. To begin the process of removing these, you should first rinse down the furniture with fresh water from a bucket or hose pipe. Next, put on your rubber gloves and mix a 2/3 cup of household detergent with 1/4 cup of bleach in the 1 gallon bucket of warm water. Using the steel wool, you should then gently scrub the wood with the solution to remove the surface layer of oxidation, dirt, mold and mildew. Depending on how weathered your teak furniture has become, this may take some time and serious elbow work. However, you should soon start to see the brilliant colour of your teak returning. Once you have completed the cleaning, you should rinse the furniture with fresh water once more and leave to dry.
Drying
While you may now be eager to complete the restoration of your furniture, you should prepare to be patient. Newly cleaned teak furniture will need a couple of days to dry out before you can apply oil to it. If you apply the oil when the wood is still wet, it will not be able to fully saturate into the wood due to the water.
Oil
Oiling and sealing your teak involves using toxic substances. You should therefore ensure your work area is well ventilated. You should lightly brush teak oil so it covers every surface of the furniture, apply 3 coats of oil, and then wait for one hour before applying another 3. Repeat this process until the wood has reached the desired colour.
Seal
By now, your teak furniture should be looking as good as new. The final step of the restoration involves sealing the wood to protect the oil you have applied. You should apply a coat of polyurethane to the furniture to seal it before letting it dry for a couple of days. Once dry, your restored furniture will be looking great and ready to use again.
To learn more, contact a teak furniture company in your area.
