Care and Maintenance
- When new, teak wood furniture has a rich golden color and will age to a soft silvery patina over time. This process takes anywhere from six to twenty-four months depending on the climate and seasonal exposure. The weathering process moves faster in moist climates but will all even out in the end, leaving us with a stunning result: Furniture pieces that, just like fine wine, age beautifully with time.
- Teak wood contains natural oils which help prevent it from rotting or deteriorating even in wet climates. When the teak is new, these oils move to the surface of the wood and cause the teak to turn gray or even black due to mold and mildew, which feed on the oil. Before placing cushions on your new teak furniture, remove dust from manufacturing by wiping the furniture piece with a damp cloth. Some of the oil in the new teak will bleed out following the first few rainfalls. To protect your cushions, bring them inside. Cushion stains from teak bleeding are not covered under warranty. Once the teak has begun to grey out, it will not bleed out oil and stain the cushions.
- To protect your sling furniture, move sling chairs out from under teak tables for the first few rainfalls. This tip also applies to fabric umbrella canopies used on teak umbrella frames. Again, after the aging process has begun and the teak has begun to grey out, it will no longer bleed oil.
- During the weathering process, you may notice “checking” or small cracks that appear in the end grain of the wood, caused by a slight expansion and contraction of the surface. Checking is cosmetic and will not impact the structural integrity of the furniture;
therefore, will not be covered by our warranty. You may also see some lifting of the grain which will disappear at the end of the weathering process, sometimes you will even get water spots or other kinds of discoloration.
Regardless, your furniture will end up with a lovely soft silvery patina, which will always even out over time and with periodic cleaning. - We do not recommend using teak oils or finishes and will not warranty our furniture after these products are applied.
For more information on teak care, please contact us via email and our team will assist you with further details.
Teak wood requires proper maintenance and cleaning on occasion, depending on the environment the furniture is exposed to. Naturally, all furniture left outdoors will take damage from environmental factors (pollen, insects, pollution, etc.) and will need to be cleaned periodically. It is highly recommended to clean the furniture at least two times a year to remove build-up dirt from the environment.
- We recommend starting hosing down the furniture with fresh water. Avoid a high-pressure hose as this can erode the surface of the timber.
- Next, scrub the wet furniture using a soft bristle brush and a solution of 2/3 cup of laundry detergent and 1/4 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of warm water.
- Afterward, rinse the entire piece with fresh water to remove any remaining cleaning solution.
*For deeper cleaning, we recommend using our Teak Cleaner. This is a simple and safe cleaner formulated specifically for teak, which will remove the silver-gray patina look and restore the furniture to a golden-brown color.
Black spots appearing on the furniture after being exposed to the outdoor environment are mildew- a result of humidity building up in the wood- and are natural mold spores. These spots are not considered a defect as they are part of the natural weathering process and can be cleaned. High-quality teak furniture is extremely mold/mildew-resistant due to the density of the wood and the natural oils and resins present in the product. While the wood itself will resist mold and mildew; these contaminants will attach to dirt, leaves, and other debris on your furniture. If left to sit for an extended period, the mold or mildew will eventually penetrate the wood.
Mildew most often develops in conditions that are damp or highly humid where the furniture doesn’t regularly dry out. Should mildew develop on your furniture, please follow these steps to remove it:
- Prepare a mild solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water
- Apply the solution to the affected furniture and let sit for a minute
- Lightly agitate with a soft bristle brush, clean in the direction of the grain, and rinse clean with water
- Repeat if necessary
PREVENTION & PRESERVATION
You can lower the probability of mold or mildew attaching to your furniture by keeping it clean. Simply hose it off when it gets dirty and wipe it down (Please remember to never pressure wash your teak furniture). Oftentimes, simply cleaning the product with soap and water and scrubbing with a scrub brush or sponge will remove the contaminants if they have not had time to settle in too deep.
- Brush off loose dirt.
- Hose down.
- Prepare a cleaning mixture of water and mild, natural soap (no detergents)
- Use a soft bristle brush to clean
- Allow soap to soak in
- Rinse thoroughly
- Allow it to air dry
* If stubborn stains persist, you can use a diluted chlorine bleach/soap mixture for spot cleaning of mildew, roof run-off and other similar stains.
Prepare the special cleaning mixture:
- Mix four ounces (half a cup) of chlorine bleach, two ounces (one-fourth cup) of natural soap (no detergents), and one gallon of water
- Clean with soft bristle brush
- Allow mixture to soak for up to 20 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly
- Allow it to air dry.
- Repeat if necessary
PREVENTION & PRESERVATION
One of the best ways to keep sling fabrics and woven straps looking good and to delay the need for deep or vigorous cleanings is to hose the fabric off on a monthly basis with clean water. This practice will help eliminate the need for more frequent vigorous cleanings. In most environments, a thorough or deep cleaning will be needed every two to three years. These fabrics can be cleaned while still on a frame or they can be removed for cleaning. Please keep in mind to protect your sling furniture during the first few usages by moving sling chairs out from under teak tables for the first few rainfalls.
- Blot (don’t rub) liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth. For oil-based spills, apply an absorbent such as corn starch, then remove with a straight edge.
- Prepare a cleaning mixture of water and mild, natural soap (no detergents)
- Spray on fabric and let it soak in
- Rinse the fabric thoroughly to remove all soap residue
- Allow it to air dry
* If stubborn stains persist, please follow the instructions below for different types of upholstery
Cleaning Removable Fabric:
- Hand Washing:
- Machine Washing (contact us before removing the casing as cushion construction may vary)
Cleaning Non-Removable Fabric:
- Prepare a solution of 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water
- Use a soft bristle brush to clean, allowing the cleaning solution to soak into the fabric
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue
- Allow fabric to air dry
Seam-to-Seam Cleaning
- When cleaning upholstered pieces, clean the entire surface area of the fabric, from seam to seam, instead of rubbing the fabric in a circular motion on the spill. This method, along with an extractor, may be required in order to avoid water rings and residue.
Mold and Mildew (Sunbrella® fabrics do not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances if not removed from the fabric)
- Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of water
- Spray on entire area and allow to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes
- Clean entire surface area with a sponge, clean towel or very soft bristle brush
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue
- Allow it to air dry
DISINFECTING SUNBRELLA® FABRICS
Sunbrella’s performance doesn’t stop at the finish–it’s engineered into the core of each fabric with a proprietary blend of fibers that are completely saturated with color–making them highly resistant to chemicals and UV light.
As a result, Sunbrella® fabrics can be cleaned and sanitized with disinfectants such as bleach and other chemicals without fear of color loss or degradation. Disinfecting or sanitizing often requires the use of strong chemicals that might damage other fabrics. However, Sunbrella fabric is proven to withstand repeated cleaning with chemicals without voiding their comprehensive warranty.
To protect your table or any piece of teak furniture from coffee, red wine, salad dressing, and other food stains, we recommend using HiTeak’s Teak Protector. Our Teak Protector is a transparent, safe product that can be used on clean, naturally weathered wood. It creates a protective barrier that helps prevent stains from penetrating the wood. It’s best to wipe away any spills with a damp cloth as soon as possible. We recommend applying it two or more times per year depending on usage and exposure.