Teak garden furniture can really enhance the features of your garden and provide a relaxing and comfortable location to pass the time. But because the wood from which this furniture is made comes from Southeast Asia if you want it to last you need to look after it properly.
Teak is a hardwood and this is what makes the furniture so it is very durable. Plus this type of furniture will last quite a considerable amount of time because it is a very dense timber and contains high levels of resinous oil within it. It is this oil which actually not only makes the wood resistant to drying out but also from absorbing too much moisture.
Today you can either purchase teak garden furniture in its raw state or when it has been oiled. Furniture, which is still in its raw state when it arrives, will have a golden color to it. However, as time passes and if the wood is left, untreated it will fade to a silver grey color instead.
If you are happy for the wood to turn from a golden to silver grey color then once this has happened there is very little that you actually need to do. However, if you want yours to retain the golden color that it first came with then you will need to be regularly applying teak oil to its surface.
For furniture, which will be outside in the garden throughout the year, you will need to apply the teak oil every 6 months. However, before you actually apply the oil you will need to clean the furniture first.
In order to clean, the wood you need to take some warm water to which you have added a mild detergent. Into this mixture place, a clean cloth and wring out until it is only damp (not soaking wet) and then gently wipe this over the surface of the furniture. This will help to remove any dust or grit that has built up. After wiping the furniture down with the water you need to let it dry completely before you go ahead an apply the oil.
Once the furniture is completely dry, you can start applying the oil. You can either do this by wiping it over the surface with a clean lint free cloth or by use of a spray gun. Using a cloth is much better as this allows you to spread the oil evenly over the surface of the wood. Once you have covered all the wood with the oil you need to leave it try until it is tacky to touch.
Once it is at this stage you should then dry with another clean lint free cloth and this will remove any excess oil on the surface of the wood. The final thing that one needs to do when oiling teak garden furniture is to buff or polish the surface with another clean rug an hour later.