How to Restore Teak Garden Furniture

If your teak garden furniture is looking a bit weathered and dull, it might be time to spruce it up a little. Teak has a naturally occurring oil that gives it a distinctive colour which fades over time in the sunlight, often being replaced by a grey colour. And if you’re unlucky, with patches of mould and mildew that thrive under the UV rays of the sun.

While the silver hue that teak takes on over time does not affect its functionality and is mainly a cosmetic issue, you may prefer restoring it to its original honey-coloured glory. Learn how to properly maintain it by following three simple steps.

What you’ll need

Warm water (mix with either: washing up liquid, vinegar) OR teak cleaner
A sponge
A bristle brush
A hose
Sand paper (not too coarse, we recommend using two types: one medium and one fine)
A damp cloth
Teak protector/sealer/finishing product
A clean rag/cloth (or a large paintbrush)

Step One: Cleaning

The first step is to clean any built-up residue and remove any mildew/mould growing on your furniture.

How to clean your teak garden furniture

If using a teak cleaner, skip this step. If using warm water with either washing up liquid or vinegar, mix up the correct quantities (we recommend one cup of vinegar for every 4L of water).
Start applying the mixture all over the surface of the wood with a sponge or something similar to moisten the teak. If using the teak cleaner, first moisten the teak with plain warm water before applying the cleaner.
Start scrubbing gently with a soft bristle brush in the direction of the wood grain so as to not damage the surface.
Continue scrubbing slowly until the grime is removed – repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed before hosing down the teak to remove all the dirt.

Step Two: Sanding

This step helps even out the texture of the teak after scrubbing, as well as removing more stubborn patches of black/dark grime. It’s important to wait for the teak to fully dry before this step.

Some people prefer giving their furniture a quick sand first, before the cleaning process. But it is always worth giving it a quick go-over afterwards too to make sure it’s as smooth as it can be.

How to sand your teak garden furniture

Begin sanding with the more coarse sanding paper gently. Sand along the grain to open it up and avoid disturbing the wood’s surface, and remove any excess old wood fragments in the process.
Switch to the finer sandpaper to ensure a smooth finish.
Make sure the surface of the wood is fully clean of any dust and debris from sanding by wiping gently with a damp cloth and then letting the teak dry.

Step Three: Sealing/Protecting

This step is optional, but ensures that the teak stays looking cleaner for longer so that you don’t need to maintain it as often. The teak should be dry before beginning this step.

How to seal your teak garden furniture

Using a clean rag/cloth or large paintbrush, dip into the sealer/finishing product and swipe along the grains of the wood all over the piece of furniture to ensure an even coat.
You may wish to add a second layer, but first ensure that the first layer is fully dry.

How to keep your furniture fresher for longer

Things we don’t recommend

Using teak oil – often teak oil being sold is not actually teak oil but a combination of linseed oil and other substances which could interfere with the teak’s natural oil and promote growth of mildew/mould when placed outside. Oiled teak doesn’t allow for the timber to breathe so it can be much harder to restore. You may wish to apply teak oil to indoor teak furniture instead.
Using a pressure washer – this can lead to damaging your teak furniture. Despite some people having success on the lowest setting, it’s safer to use a hose.
Painting teak furniture – it may look good at first, but over time the naturally occurring oil in the teak will cause the paint to chip, bubble or fade.
Using steel wool or steel wire brushes – this will damage the surface of the wood.