CLEANING AND RESTORING TEAK FURNITURE: From Then To Zen.

Start with laying out your ground cover and a quick spray with the pressure washer to loosen any dirt on the furniture. While gloved and masked, gently go over with the brush dipped in a bucket of warm water solution of a few capfuls of bleach to kill any unseen lingering mold. Finish with another spray rinse and let the pieces dry thoroughly.

Mr. Sandman, yes? Make it pristine!

Next comes the most time-consuming part of the process. Don’t rush into it. The furniture MUST be completely dry before sanding and depending on the wear and tear may need extra time but the results will be stunning. Follow the basic nitty grittier of sanding:

• Find the grain and go WITH it. NEVER cross-sand. It will leave scratches and gouges.
• Make smooth over lapping passes, checking on the grind of paper from time to time, replacing it when required.
• DON’T throw all your weight behind the sander. Remember…you’re looking for smooth and silky.
• When you’re satisfied with the quality of the sanding, brush away excess sawdust with a dry rag, brush or even a pass of your leaf blower.
• Finish with a third wash rinse from the hose sprayer and let dry at least overnight.
• Take a couple of Aleve or Advil to release the knots in your shoulders and vibrating pain in your wrists…and look forward to the morning.
**tongue in cheek of course. If anything, enjoy a cocktail. You’ve earned it**

Teak your time. It’s all in the finish.

Good morning handy people and welcome to day 2 of Cleaning and Restoring Teak Furniture. Today you will see the fruits of your labor outshine your greatest expectations. Start with your now freshly sanded and DRY pieces on your tarp. Brush away any residual dust or dirt cling-ons and with gloved hands, protected eyes, clean lint free rags and away from direct sunlight if possible, apply the linseed oil to first your rag then onto your furniture, again, following the grain, massaging it into the wood until absorbed. Keeping in mind that this will be a two coated step, by the time you’ve finished one coat you can begin the second coat almost immediately after. You’ll be amazed at the richness of the finish as the linseed works with the teak’s natural oil to produce that deep golden rich luster.

The Great Indoors.

Weather it’s a floor, a bed frame, that salad bowl that’s been on top of the kitchen cabinet for years, general maintenance is much easier and is fait d’accompli with a basic dusting, mild washing and light linseed oiling when needed. ( usually every two months is sufficient for oiling and polishing ) If your bathroom has teak accents like flooring, accessories or even a shower stall or attached steam room, a mildew check from time to time is worth the dime to take care of with a quick brush of bleach water and multi rinsing is all that is needed.

TOP SHELF TREASURE.

You’ve restored your favorite Adirondack chair, chaise loungers and accent side tables and all the neighbors think you’ve purchased replacements. A quick wipe of your dining room floor, a dust and light oiling of your bedroom furniture, and a well-deserved hour at your favorite hatha yoga studio on gleaming clean teak slab floors followed by a brisk pore scrubbing shower. Now, it’s time for one more thing. Reaching up high, your fingers grasp onto the rim of the treasure you seek. Pulling it down, you blow out a few well-adjusted dust bunnies and leave it by the coffee pot…a gentle reminder that tomorrow you’ll finally make Aunt Bonnie happy by using the teak salad bowl.