Because of its natural strength in extreme weather conditions and comparatively rarity, Teak is best used for outdoor furnitures. With high natural oil content, it is the option of most buyers.  The natural oil which teak possesses is the reason why it is resistive to weather, water, sun and other outdoor elements that can putrefy and destroy other wood species. Teak does not need to be protected. It is a unique wood that if left in its natural state, is virtually maintenance-free.  Periodic cleaning of teak furniture can certainly add another length of time to be used.   Teak is considered as gold standard for outdoor furniture because of its unique and helpful features. 

By choosing quality teak outdoor furniture, you have selected the finest, most durable material available for use in the construction of outdoor furniture!    The product of natural beauty and durability is teak.  By choosing teak outdoor furniture, you can actually save up money and exert less effort in maintaining its condition.

So the question is, “how can we preserve the teak outdoor furniture?” Teak sealer is often recommended to preserve the natural honey color or to darken the color of the wood. Teak sealer contains UV protection to keep the sun from graying the furniture as well as a fungicide to prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the surface of your furniture.  After the furniture has been cleaned, you can already apply teak sealers (applicable either to new teak or old teak furnitures).  Varnish is not the same as sealer. It is meant to preserve the color of the wood and is breathable, letting the natural oils escape without bubbling or peeling like varnish.  When it comes to protection and stains, sealers and preservatives can be perfectly used.  Generally, the darker the stain, the more sun protection it provides, and the less often it needs to be reapplied. For furniture with an ageing varnish that is peeling, cracking or bubbling, it is recommended that you sand this finish off and use a teak sealer or just let the teak stay bare.

Applying the preservative is straightforward. On the first application, the wood should be allowed to stand in the sun for a week or two to allow the wood grain to open. A coat of teak sealer should be sprayed on and rubbed in with a rag.  Two coats should be applied in this manner: 1) to all surfaces, 2) top, 3) bottom, 4)sides and between any slats. The area underneath the furniture should be protected with a drop cloth or newsprint as most sealers will stain concrete. After the first application, teak sealer should be reapplied every year by cleaning the wood with mild detergent and water and spraying and rubbing in a coat only on the surfaces that get sun.

After the furniture is sealed, very little care is needed to preserve the finish. Occasional washing with soap and water will remove normal soil. Oils from foods and some condiments will pervade the sealer and may leave a stain. To avoid this, a teak clear coat can be applied to the table top to better stain resistance.

Teak is protected by its own natural oils that migrate to the surface of the wood and make the wood virtually impervious to water. As such, the use of varnish, water sealers, and oil on Teak furniture is not recommended. Products such as varnish and polyurethane will peel and chip and are strong to remove without vigorous sanding. Oiling teak will not prevent the wood from graying, and often results in mold and mildew growing on the furniture (which commonly shows up as black dots or patches.) Removing mold and mildew on the surface will require washing the furniture with bleach and soap followed by sanding.

Tips and Warnings:

•  Your teak furniture needs not to be re-sealed when the water beads up. You can also use water and lightly spray the water onto the surface. 

• Never use steel wool to clean teak as the fibers left behind will cause rust stains in the wood.

•  The wood will be damaged if you used harsh detergents or pressure washing to clean the furniture.

•  When working with tools or chemicals, it is recommended to use safety glasses. Aside from safety glasses,  it is also recommended to wear masks and gloves when working with wood cleaners.