Teak wood is famous for requiring little maintenance, however, you still need to take care of it from time to time. This article will show you how to make your own homemade teak cleaner and clean your teak wood easily with just a few household ingredients.
You’ll learn how to properly maintain your teak wood without damaging it. This way you can be sure that your beautiful teak piece will stay that way for years to come.
I’ll show you how to make an easy DIY cleaning agent and how to apply it in just 5 simple steps. You’ll also see some neat tips on how to keep it clean for longer.
Clean Teak With a DIY Cleaning Agent in 5 Easy Steps [Infographics]
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5 Easy Step Cleaning Guide
Let’s see how to properly clean your teak furniture with just the thing from your home. Here’s your step by step guide on how to make dirty teak wood shine again.
Step 1: Make Your Own Homemade Teak Cleaner
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of tap water
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- ¼ cup of dish soap
Pure all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake it a bit. This is enough cleaning agent for one large teak furniture piece so you can scale this ratio up or down for your needs.
In case your teak shows signs of mold, you can add 1 tbsp of bleach to the mix.
Step 2: Apply DIY Teak Cleaner
To get the best results, you need to spray your DIY teak cleaner all over the furniture piece and allow it to sit for several minutes.
Step 3: Start Scrubbing Gently
Take a soft bristle brush, rougher brushes may damage the teak, and gently scrub the dirt and residue off your teak piece.
Step 4: Rinse Well and Let Dry
Now the most important part. Make sure to rinse all the residue and cleaning agent out of the teak, but don’t use too strong pressure. If possible, leave it in the sun for a few hours to speed up the process, but don’t let it stay there for too long.
Step 5: Preserve Rich Teak Color
To have your teak retain its rich color you will need to apply teak oil from time to time. You can apply it every year or two, or when you notice it fading. Check out my detailed guide on how to apply teak oil here. And if you need help choosing oil, check out our best teak oil guide.
4 Tips on How to Keep Your Teak Furniture Clean
Here are four useful but simple tips on how to keep your teak furniture clean as long as possible.
Use Covers: Use cushions or covers on teak chairs and seats if possible. Direct sunlight and water might not damage your teak, but they can stain or discolor it unevenly. Also, use covers for dormant teak pieces.
Avoid oil-based foods: Perhaps it’s best to avoid food on teak at all, but oil-based foods like mayo and ketchup can stain your teak easily. Use table covers, cloths or trays to prevent this.
Don’t use Scouring Pads or Steel Wool: Don’t use steel wool or any hard material while cleaning your teak wood so you don’t damage the beautiful teak finish.
Avoid Pressure Washers: Pressure washers clean hard stains amazingly, but they can also wear off the finish on your teak. Potential cracks in your wood can become even worse if hit by a pressure washer stream.
Final Thoughts
Take good care of your teak furniture and it will serve you for a lifetime. Now you know how to make a homemade teak cleaner and use it properly, so there aren’t many excuses.
If you have any questions or need more details, feel free to write in the comments, I’ll answer as soon as possible.
Here are three useful but simple tips on what not to do when cleaning teak furniture.
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