For centuries, Teak has been the leading choice for furniture. Renowned for its beauty and durability, Teak has begun to gain traction over contemporary flatpacks. 

Teak wood is sourced in South East Asia and is renowned for its imperishability and stunning knots and grain. Due to natural oil production, Teak furniture is low maintenance and not liable to bend or warp. With a little TLC, your Teak furniture will last a lifetime. 

 

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The Best Way to Protect Teak Furniture

If you have outdoor Teak furniture, there's no need to bring it inside over the winter; due to its hardy oil production, Teak only needs to be covered during winter.

All you have to do for indoor Teak furniture is dust daily (or thereabouts) with a lint-free cloth. It may also be beneficial to oil your pieces with a product developed explicitly for Teak every three or four months. 

 

Natural Oxidisation 

The beautiful polished sheen of your Teak furniture results from the naturally occurring oils the wood produces. Over time due to surface oil evaporation, your furniture will develop a soft silvery tone that in no way affects the quality and durability of your furniture; in fact, it adds a beautiful hue and timeless character. 

For indoor furniture, unless exposed to UV rays, the stunning polished wood should maintain its shine for a lifetime. UV damage takes around six months of total exposure to sunlight, so you can safely place your furniture anywhere in your home. 

Still, if you prefer to maintain the original colour, it is worth oiling more frequently and covering the furniture when possible. 

If your furniture develops into a grey tinge over time, the best way to restore it is by encouraging natural oil production. Lightly sanding your furniture with 150-grit sandpaper and then dusting it down before applying a sealant is the best way to achieve this. 

 

Top Tips for Sealing Teak 

  • Open the grain in the sunshine for around two weeks.
  • Work the sealant into the grain with a lint-free cloth by applying gentle pressure; if you use a brush, you risk leaving apparent strokes.
  • Don’t use harsh or abrasive chemicals or a metal-wired scrubber.

 

Cleaning 

This process is straightforward. As the age-old saying suggests, don’t go against the grain. Wipe down your furniture with some mild dish soap and warm water, and it will be restored to its beauty in no time. 

If your Teak dining set has stubborn stains such as grease or heat, diluting white vinegar in water should help tackle them, but ensure you test on an inconspicuous area first. 

Leave the diluted solution for around five minutes and then wipe it down with some clean water, and your furniture will be restored to its natural charm. 

If the stain persists, purchase a commercial Teak cleaner and wipe this onto already dampened furniture, leave for around five minutes, and gently wipe away with a soft clean cloth.

This cleaning process doesn’t need to be done often. A quick wipe-down with a duster is usually enough to keep your Teak furniture looking elegant. 

 

Cover Dining Tables

Ensure you cover your tables with a cloth and placemats during meals, as the heat from plates and coffee cups can damage the wood. 

Similarly, if your children want to craft or do homework at the table, adding a piece of cork or cardboard underneath will help prevent pencils from jabbing into the wood. 

 

Sustainable Furniture’s Stunning Collection of Teak

The benefits of reclaimed furniture are unparalleled, especially for those prioritising an eco-friendly lifestyle. At Sustainable Furniture, the environment is at the heart of all we do; using reclaimed Teak in our furniture actively reduces our environmental impact while producing elegant furniture to last you a lifetime.

Our Teak Root collection is excavated from abandoned plantations in Indonesia and then crafted into our stunning furniture. By choosing to do this, we give back to the livelihoods of the local community and keep our environmental impact low, as the soil can be reused for planting. 

For more information about our sustainability ethos or to help find the perfect furniture for your decor, please don’t hesitate to contact us.