Advice on maintaining your Garden Furniture
Getting teak garden furniture can really enhance the usability of your garden. It can provide you with an area that allows you to relax and unwind. But if you intend to have this kind of furniture in your garden because of where the wood comes from it is important that you learn how to care for it correctly.
Although it is a hardwood making it very strong, it is still very likely to suffer from what the elements can throw at it. The wood in teak is much denser than some others and contains a resinous oil that can extend the life of the furniture. Yes, this oil can help to prevent the wood not only drying out but makes it far more resistant to moisture as well.
When it comes to buying such teak furniture for the garden, you can either purchase it in its natural raw state or that which has been treated using a teak oil. When you first get the furniture home, it is a golden color, but as time passes, the wood will eventually begin to fade a silver grey color instead.
If you are quite happy for the wood to turn silver grey then once it has there is very little you will need to do in order for it retain it. For those, who however would prefer their would to retain that golden hue then it is important that they apply a layer of teak oil.
For furniture, which will be outside in the garden throughout the year, you will need to apply the teak oil every 6 months. However, before you actually apply the oil you will need to clean the furniture first.
In order to clean, the wood you need to take some warm water to which you have added a mild detergent. Into this mixture place, a clean cloth and wring out until it is only damp (not soaking wet) and then gently wipe this over the surface of the furniture. This will help to remove any dust or grit that has built up. After wiping the furniture down with the water you need to let it dry completely before you go ahead an apply the oil.
Once the furniture is completely dry, you can start applying the oil. You can either do this by wiping it over the surface with a clean lint free cloth or by use of a spray gun. Using a cloth is much better as this allows you to spread the oil evenly over the surface of the wood. Once you have covered all the wood with the oil you need to leave it try until it is tacky to touch.
When the oil has got to this stage, you now need to take another lint free cloth (clean one) and use this for removing any oil that is left on the surface. Then about an hour after this, you need to take another clean cloth that you use to polish up the surface of your teak garden furniture.
