How To Clean Teak Wood Indoor Furniture

If you’re a collector of original, teak mid-century modern furniture, congratulations! This furniture has timeless design and is built to last. When properly cared for, teak furniture can look like new for generations.

Daily Care

According to the teak masters at Dane Decor, teak is durable, easy to clean and naturally stain resistant. “Teak can withstand water spilled on it for 12 hours without showing any signs of finish damage.” Once a week, dust furniture with a lint-free cloth. In summer when windows are open, or dust-causing work is being done in the home, dust more frequently.

Oiling the Wood

Teak wood on indoor furniture should be oiled every 3 to 4 months. Oil can be applied with a lint-free cloth (don’t use paper towels because they can scratch the wood) or fine triple-zero steel wool. Steel wool will help remove any stubborn stains, but make sure to only rub in the direction of the grain, and never rub too hard or long because that will damage the finish.

After oiling, teak must be rubbed with a dry, absorbent cloth. The experts at Dane Decor explain that, “All the oil must be rubbed off the surface. In fact, it should feel just as dry to your touch as it did before you started to oil.”

Properly cared-for teak will change color slightly and the grain will be more pronounced after oiling. One of the truly admirable things about teak is that it becomes more beautiful as it ages. New teak has a slightly yellow color and aged teak becomes a rich, deep orange.

What Kind of Oil Should You Use?

The best oil for indoor teak furniture is Danish oil. Like Teak oil (which is not made from teak-tree oil and is often used on outdoor teak furniture), Danish oil is a penetrating oil made up of linseed, rosewood or tung oil and other ingredients. When buying Danish oil, make sure to choose “natural.” Some Danish oil is colored and using it will change the color of the wood.

Properly cared for teak furniture is a treasure that gets better as it ages.

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