Teak Wood Treatment

Wash

• Use Murphy's Oil Soap and a lint-free soft cloth to wash your teak wood. Washing it not only removes any dirt on the surface, but will get rid of any unseen mold, mildew or oxidation.

  After you have washed the teak, rinse it thoroughly, taking care to wash away all soap residue. Leave the wood to dry for 24 hours.

Sand

• Use a sheet of fine sandpaper (at least 320 grit, but finer if it is available) to sand the teak in the direction of the grain. You only need to sand enough to reveal the color of the wood and expose its natural oil. Be careful not to sand too much.

  When you are done sanding, thoroughly dust the wood with a lint-free cloth. Pay close attention to removing any dust hidden in corners, joints or seams.

Coat

• To apply the teak wood oil, you will need a soft brush with natural bristles. Dip the brush into the teak wood oil and apply it liberally, using even brush strokes. Be careful not to over-saturate the wood.

  Leave the teak to dry for two hours. Apply one more coat and leave it to dry for two hours. For a richer color, you can continue to apply coats in this way until you obtain the desired color.

Repeat

• Teak wood takes about one year to turn gray or silver when left outdoors. To maintain your teak's beautiful amber color, treat it at least once a year. However, some home owners who live in climates with harsh temperatures (which will cause graying more quickly) treat their teak twice a year--once in spring when it begins to get a lot of use, and once in fall when the outdoor season is ending.