You probably need to know how to restore indoor and outdoor teak furniture, especially if you have had them for quite a while. Teak furniture can last for good, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to the proper care and maintenance. You need to do proper cleaning and restoration when you want to refresh the look and make it more appealing. Cleaning and restoring teak furniture doesn’t have to be complex or a headache, but you must do it carefully and don’t take things for granted.
Reasons for the Restoration
After a while, your furniture will look worn and tired. It would be dirty when you put them outdoors. When you know how to restore indoor and outdoor teak furniture, you can refresh the look, breathing a new appearance and life. You can always hire a professional service to do the work. But if you have the tools and you don’t mind doing some extra DIY, you can always manage everything on your own. However, DIY work isn’t advisable when you are completely clueless about what to do.
It’s crucial that you only use special wood stains for teak wood. When you pick the wrong stain, it will significantly affect the furniture. Not only the wrong stain can lead to a sad-looking result, but you can make your furniture prone to chipping, damage, and mold.
Related: What’s the Difference Between Teak Grade A, B, and C: Identifying the Right One for You
Tools and Recipes
The first thing is how to restore indoor and outdoor teak furniture is to understand the basic tools, which consist of:
- Different sandpaper or (steel) wool
- Special teak cleaner. If you can make a homemade one, you can also use it.
- Clean rags or soft cloth
- Bristle brush (the soft one)
- Rubber gloves
If you are interested in making the recipe, there are 2 different recipes available.
- Recipe 1 is to mix a cup of vinegar with a gallon of warm water
- Recipe 2 is to mix two quarts of chlorine bleach with ¼ cup of dish soap (the liquid one), and two gallons of warm water.
Steps to Do Restoration
The first thing you want to do is to clean your furniture. Always. Some people say it’s okay to use a pressure washer to clean it. However, pressure isn’t advisable for any kind of wood. The strong pressure may damage the wood surface, even for teak. Some homeowners have experienced wood chipping from the use of such a washer.
The best option to do the cleaning is to use gentle rags or cloth. Damp it and then wipe it off on the surface. You can use a damp cloth and homemade cleaner recipe (from above) to remove any dirt or dust. Check the wood grain and wipe your furniture in the same direction.
Related: Teak Wood Characteristics for Furniture Making: What to Love about the Wood
After you have cleaned up the furniture, you want to sand it, especially when the furniture is packed with many scratches and stains. Just sand it gently and carefully. Gentle sand will only remove the top veneer. Don’t do it too much or you will remove more than the top veneer or directly go through to the furniture’s substrate. Gentle steel wool (the #0000) would be perfect. A soft brush is also handy.
Keep in mind to always do it within the wood grain’s same direction. You want to do light exfoliation, so make sure that you don’t overdo it. Check for once in a while whether you have sanded enough to get rid of any gunk, scratch, or paint.
The next step is to apply the oil. Whether you want to use the oil or teak protector (or sealer), it’s up to you. Some people prefer the oil, while others prefer the sealer. There’s nothing wrong with them. The sealer is meant to protect the furniture from discoloration. Once you know how to restore indoor and outdoor teak furniture, you can expect a gorgeous result without spending a fortune.
