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Care and Maintenance of Teak Teak is a beautiful and durable hardwood. It requires little or no care and will maintain its strength and attractiveness for decades. Below are guidelines, which if followed properly, will allow your furniture to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.
The Weathering Process
Your furniture will appear polished when first removed from the carton (please read and follow enclosed instructions carefully if your furniture requires assembly). After the piece is put together, wipe lightly with a clean, damp cloth to remove any dust from manufacturing. The polished appearance comes from oil occurring naturally in the wood. The oil on the surface will evaporate within a few days outdoors - it is the oil that remains below the surface that gives the wood its durability.
The furniture, when left outdoors, will turn a handsome silver-gray. This process will take approximately nine months, depending on the amount of sun and rain exposure. The end result is furniture with a timeless appeal. During the weathering process a slight "checking" or lifting of the grain may occur. You may even notice a few very small cracks. This is perfectly natural as wood expands and contracts when left outdoors. The grain will return to its original smooth finish after the initial weathering process and has no affect on the stability of the furniture in any
way. To aid this process, simply clean the furniture with a soft bristle brush or sponge. Water spots or other discoloration may also occur during the weathering process. These will even out and the furniture will achieve a uniform silver-gray.
Cleaning
The only maintenance necessary for your furniture is periodic cleaning. This should be done with a solution of four parts laundry detergent or dish-washing soap and one part bleach. Use a soft bristle brush to clean your furniture. When you are finished, rinse the entire piece to remove the dirt and any remaining solution, This is sufficient for general cleaning. For deeper cleaning (grease, red wine, etc.) we recommend the use of teak cleaner. This will remove the silver-gray patina and restore the furniture's original color.
Teak Cleaner and Protector
Should you prefer to keep the furniture the original golden color, we offer a teak protector. This product will maintain the color for approximately one year and can be reapplied as needed (usually once a year). After the furniture has weathered and you wish to restore it to the original color, we recommend using our teak cleaner. The cleaner will retsore the furniture to its natural golden color regardless of how long the piece has been outside. This product requires no heavy scrubbing or polishing and takes approximately thirty minutes to apply. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND
USING OIL on outdoor FURNITURE BECAUSE OF THE MAINTENANCE INVOLVED. Oiling outdoor teak may cause mildew or irregular coloring.
Cushions and Umbrella Covers
Before placing cushions on the furniture, remove any dust or dirt by wiping the furniture with a damp cloth. Your furniture contains oil. Expect some of these oils to bleed out following the first few rainfalls. In order to protect your cushions, remove them when the furniture gets wet. Once the furniture has begun to form the silver-gray patina, it is no longer necessary to remove the cushions.
Indoor Use
Should you choose to use your teak furniture INDOORS, we suggest that you apply teak or linseed oil, or wax the furniture using Briwax or Johnson's Wax.
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Teak garden furniture in classic teak designs. Call Atlantic Teak Furniture
at 1-866-869-8122 for teak furniture.
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