Care of Teak Patio Furniture

Congratulation! By choosing Teak you have selected the finest, most durable material available for outdoor furniture. The Chair King Teak Cleaner and Sealer will help protect your investment and enhance its natural beauty.

Teak with the beatuy of its grain, rich color, and timeless durability is treasured as the choice material for premier outdoor furniture. Over time the elements will cause surface erosion, discoloration, graying, roughness and checking. Because of teak's natural resistance to rotting and insects there are several options in caring for your furniture.

Preserve:
If you prefer to retain the natural, honey color of the new wood, then seal you furniture with The Chair King Teak Sealer.

Although Teak is protected by its own natural oils that migrate to the surface of the wood, the elements oxidize this oil, turning the wood gray. The Chair King Teak Sealer contains UV protection and a mildewcide to prevent this process.

Weather:
If you prefer a weathered gray look, then do nothing. Left alone, Teak turns naturally to an elegant silver gray color.

Restore:
If the Teak is weathered, stained or develops mildew it can always be restored using The Chair King Teak Cleaner.

When Teak is exposed to the elements without a finish, has been oiled or is stained with food or other stains, the surface becomes dirty gray and mildew can develop on the surface. The Chair King Two Part Teak Cleaner removes the effects of mildew, weathering and food and water stains.

Preserving Teak with The Chair King Teak Sealer Top^

If you wish to preserve the natural honey color of the new Teak then seal your Teak Furniture with The Chair King Teak Sealer.

The Teak Sealer replaces the Teak oils that formerly were used to Teak furniture. In reality, there is no such things as "Teak Oil". Products sold as "Teak Oil" are just linseed or tung oil mixed with solvents. Other products such as varnish and polyurethane will peel and chip and are all but impossible to remove from intricate Teak furniture.

When?
The furniture should be allowed to weather for a couple of weeks or washed with a strong detergent prior to sealing. It is okay for the wood to get wet and be outdoors during this period. This process will remove the waxy feeling of new furniture which occurs when the natural oils have been polished or burnished by the sanding and milling process during manufacture. Failure to remove this mill glaze will result in a blotchy appearance and early failure of the sealer protection.

How?
1. Be sure the wood has weathered two weeks or has been washed and is comletely dry before sealing. See the can label for complete directions.

2. Apply the Sealer using a plastic spray bottle, brush or rag. Apply liverally and wipe off the excess with a rag. The Chair King Teak Sealer is not a sticky finish and can be applied at almost any temperature. There is no need to be concerned about brush strokes or lap marks. The first coat will dry in under and hour.

3. Apply a second coat when the first coat is complete. Be sure to apply both coats in the same day. The furniture will be dry to the touch in a few hours and can be placed in service the next day. Two coats are all that are recommended for new or restored furniture.

4. Enjoy your furniture, knowing that is protected by the finest Teak protection available.

Day to Day Care of Teak Furniture Top^

After your funiture is finished with The Chair King Teak Sealer very little care is neede to preserve the finish.

General Soil
1. Use a mild detergent such a dish soap and a sponge or soft scrub brush to was the furniture as needed.

2. Never use bleach, a brass brush, a pressure washer or steel wool on Teak furniture. These items will damage or discolor the surface of the wood.

Food stains or other soil or stains that are not removed by this process can be removed by using The Chair King Teak Cleaner as described in the Restoring section of this page.

Annual Maintenance and Resealing
Once your furniture is finished with The Chair King Teak Sealer, the following maintenance procedure is recommended to maintain the furniture and finish. The finish can be maintained for many years with this procedure.

Why?
Previously sealed Teak should be resealed on an occasional basis to compensate for traffic and enivronmental wear and tear. Typically once a year is sufficent for residential applications away from salt air. Commercial and maritime applications away from salt air. Commerical and maritime applications may require twice a year recoating. When the color fades and water dashed on the surface soaks right in, it is time to recoat.

How?
1. Clean the Teak with mild detergent to remove and soil. Wet the wood with a hose. Use a Scotch Brite pad or a soft scrub brush to gently clean the surface off the wood with a mild detergent such as dish soap. If any stains or soil remain, sand lightly with fine sandpaper to remove the mark. If this method does not remove a stain you may have to use the Restoring direction on this page.

2. Ensure that the wood is completely dry before applying the Sealer.

3. Apply a single coat of Sealer using a plastic spray bottle, brush or rag. Apply liberally and wipe off the excess with a rag. One coat should be sufficent to recoat most applications.

Restoring Teak Top^

If your furniture has been allowed to weather or is stained by food or other marks or if you wish to remove the Teak Sealer and start again, The Chair King Teak Cleaner will restore the wood to like new condition.

When?
Clean at any time during the life of the furniture when cleaning back to the original unfinished wood is desired. It is not recommended that this type of cleaning be employed on a regular basis as it may contribute to the wood becoming rougher over time.

How?
1. Wet the wood with a hose and keep the wood wet during the entire process.

2. Apply Part 1 Cleaner to a small area at a time.

3. Use a Scotch Brite pad or soft scrub brush to scrub the area.

4. Rinse if necessary to remove debris and keep wet.

5. Apply the Part 2 Cleaner to the same area and scrub lightly with a soft brush or clean Scotch Brite pad.

6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 on the next small area. Work on a small area at a time working from top to bottom. Larger areas can be worked by using a garden type sprayer to apply the cleaners.

7. Rinse Thoroughly with water. Repeat the process on any sstubborn stains. The wood will lighten as it dries.

8. Read and follow complete directions on the Cleaner bottles.