Steps to Protect Teak Outdoor Furniture
There are several measures which need to be taken in order to protect teak outdoor furniture for example; cleaning the teak outdoor furniture after regular intervals, applying teak sealer on to it annually followed by a clear coat, and follow all the warnings related to teak outdoor furniture. The brief overview of the protections is given below;
- Cleaning & Maintenance:
First, the user needs to wet the wood thoroughly and then use mild detergent & water or a cleaning product specially designed for cleaning teak and wash the whole furniture with it. The user can also scrub the highly stained or soiled areas with a soft scrub brush or a light abrasive pad. Once done, rinse the outdoor teak furniture in order to remove debris from it and let the furniture be wet while cleaning. The process needs to be repeated in order to get rid of stubborn stains. After cleaning, let the furniture to dry so that it returns to natural colors and then reapply teak sealer annually followed by a clear coat if required.- Sealing:
Most users prefer the new look of teak which fades away with time but the faded color can be brought to its natural or original look by applying a sealer on to it. It is recommended to use the sealer specially designed to protect and seal teak outdoor furniture from ultraviolet rays and the graying effect of those rays. The sealer can also protect the teak wood furniture from the growth of mold and mildew during humid or moist climates. Before applying the sealer, the user needs to leave the teak outdoor furniture in sunlight for a week or two due to which the grains of the wood will open up that helps the wood in accepting the sealer very well. Also, it is necessary to dust the furniture in order to remove debris from it before applying a sealer on to it. Experts recommend setting the drop cloth underneath the teak furniture in order to protect the area from overspray. Apart from that, it has been recommended to rub the sealer into the wood using a clean rag after a light coat of sealer is sprayed on to it and apply another coat once the first coat is dry.- Apply Clear Coat:
Once the sealant cures the teak outdoor furniture, the user needs to sand the wooden surface lightly and brush away the debris from it. After that, the user needs to apply two clear coats on to the teak outdoor furniture in the same manner as the sealer was applied by using a clean cloth or a rag. It is necessary to let the first clear coat dry before applying the second clear coat and once the second coat will be dry, the teak outdoor furniture can be put to use.- Warnings:
The experts recommend not to pressure wash the teak outdoor furniture as it can discolor or damage the wood. Also, the use of varnish or other products that are not meant for the teak wood is strictly prohibited as the products doesn't provide any protection to the wood and removing such products can be a hectic process. Apart from that, the user has been warned not to use water repellents or oils on to the teak wood as it can contribute towards the growth of mildew or mold on to the teak outdoor furniture.