How to Refinish Teak Swim Steps

Wet the swim steps with your water hose, as well as any areas of gel coating or paint that could get cleaner on it while restoring your steps. If doing your work at home with the boat out of water, place a plastic tarp under the area you're restoring to prevent any chemicals from bleaching or staining under your work area.

Apply teak cleaner to the swim steps and brush it with your stiff-bristled brush, with the grain of the wood. Follow the instructions for the brand of cleaner being used. Some stronger cleaners can be rinsed immediately after brushing and some weaker cleaners are designed to be left on the wood for several minutes to let the cleaner absorb into the wood.

Rinse the cleaner from the wood using your water hose, not a pressure washer. Pressure washers can cause the wood grains to rise and make it necessary for you to sand your teak smooth again, a hard task because teak has wax and oil in it that will build up on the sandpaper quickly and make the work difficult.

Apply teak brightener to the swim steps using a sponge or rag. Always wipe the wood with the grain. Some brighteners, depending on the brand, will need to be left on the wood for several minutes, others can be rinsed off immediately after application. Follow the directions on the product being used.