Teak wood maintenance

We'll guide you through everything you need to know about cleaning, protecting, and maintaining teak wood.

What is teak wood?

Teak wood is a stunning natural material with properties that make it perfect for prolonged outdoor use. It comes from the teak tree, which can grow up to 40 meters high and is traditionally found in South Asia. Teak trees have a slow growth rate, making teak wood a sustainable resource. The slow growth results in characteristics ideal for outdoor use, with closely spaced growth rings increasing the wood's oil and fat content. This prevents the wood from drying out, extending its lifespan. Additionally, teak wood is resistant to rot, simplifying maintenance. We prioritize the sustainable and legal cultivation and harvesting of our wood. Most of our teak garden furniture is certified with the SVLK or FSC® mark.

  • Absorbs heat
  • Naturally highly resistant to rot and fungi
  • Certified
  • Does not splinter

Using the right maintenance products

For teak wood, we've developed specific maintenance products. We strongly advise against cleaning teak furniture with aggressive cleaning agents such as vinegar, baking soda, chlorine, or bleach. These cleaning agents can damage the wood. We also discourage the use of green/soft soap because residual soap can cause mold. Never use a pressure washer on teak wood. The pressure can damage the soft top layer, creating a rough and ribbed surface—ideal for mold growth.

Our selection of teak wood colours

Robust teak

Robust teak wood is characterized by its beautiful warm colour. Over time, due to sun exposure, this warm brown colour naturally transforms into a subtle grey tone. If you prefer to maintain the dark brown colour, you can use Life Robust Teak Protector, which contains a UV filter to slow down the greying process.

Grey teak

Grey teak wood has a grey wash layer for an intense grey colour. This colour gradually fades due to sun exposure, allowing the original natural grey tone to re-emerge. If you’d prefer to retain the intensive grey colour, you can use Life Colour Grey.

Natural teak

Natural teak wood closely resembles the natural colour of teak. The colour layer will slowly grey through sun and weather exposure. To restore the furniture to its natural teak colour, you can use our Natural Teak Protector. It's essential to apply only a thin layer of the protector to achieve the most natural colour.

Our teak wood colours

How to maintain your teak furniture

Maintaining teak wood is easy, if done regularly. Proper maintenance extends the lifespan of your outdoor furniture, keeping the wood looking beautiful. With the right care, teak wood even becomes more attractive as it 'ages' over the years. Note that small hairline cracks may develop, which is a natural process. Cleaning teak furniture is best done at least twice a year. Consider doing this in the spring to be fully prepared for a new season. The treatment will take two days because you need to wait between the steps. Ensure it doesn't rain during this time.

Required time: two days (including drying time)
You'll need:

  • Teak cleaner
  • Robust Teak Protector or Grey Colour Teak or Nature Teak Protector
  • Teak Shield
  • Aluminum scouring pad
  • WaterGloves

Cleaning your teak furniture with water

Before you begin, it's wise to place the furniture on a hard surface and remove all items from it. Cover the work area with a tarp or other protective layer to keep it clean. Then, clean the table with water. Apply water with a garden hose or a bucket and sponge to remove excess dirt from the table.

Treating your furniture with Teak Cleaner

Shake the Life Teak Cleaner well before use. Apply a thin layer of Teak Cleaner on the surface. Legs or hard-to-reach places can be treated with a cloth or sponge. Let it sit for 3 minutes.

Wipe the table clean with an aluminum sponge or scouring pad. Do this in the direction of the wood grain to prevent damage. Continue until the wood looks clean.

Rinse the furniture thoroughly with water, ensuring that all Teak Cleaner is washed off. Allow the furniture to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

Treating your furniture for color retention

To preserve the natural color of teak, we have developed special maintenance products for robust teak, gray teak and nature teak.

Robust teak

Shake the bottle well and apply a thin layer of Robust Teak Protector.
Let it dry for at least 30 minutes.
Optionally, apply a second layer, letting it dry for another 30 minutes.
By applying a second layer, the colour will be more intense, but it’s up to you!

Grey teak

Shake the bottle well and apply a thin layer of Robust Teak Protector. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes. Optionally, apply a second layer, letting it dry for another 30 minutes. By applying a second layer, the colour will be more intense, but it’s up to you!

Natural teak

Shake the bottle well before use and apply a thin layer of Natural Teak Protector. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes.

Treating your furniture with Teak Shield

Finally, treat the furniture with our Teak Shield. This treatment provides a protective layer that protects against dirt, grease, and stains. Teak Shield should always be applied last because nothing can penetrate the wood after this. When you notice water no longer beads on the furniture but immediately soaks into the wood, it's time to apply a new layer of Teak Shield.

Begin by shaking the bottle well. Apply a layer with a lint-free soft cloth. Let it soak in and, after 4 hours of drying, apply another layer. Allow this to dry for two days.

Please note: never cover your furniture when it's still wet, as this can cause mold.

We advise against placing your teak furniture under a protective cover during the winter. If you choose to do so, make sure the cover doesn't touch the teak to prevent mold.

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