How to Maintain Your Teak Garden Furniture
Teak is a favourite for outdoor furniture for good reason – it’s naturally durable, beautifully timeless, and incredibly low maintenance. With just the occasional clean and the right care, your teak furniture can stay looking stunning for decades.
If left to age naturally, teak will develop a distinctive silvery-grey patina over time – a look many find appealing. But whether you love that weathered effect or want to keep the golden tones of new teak, we offer a simple range of water-based care products to help you keep your furniture looking just the way you like it.
Before you apply any treatments, make sure your furniture is completely clean and dry. We also recommend leaving your furniture outside for a few weeks after delivery so the natural oils in the teak can rise to the surface before applying anything.
Whether you’re caring for brand-new pieces or refreshing an older favourite, here’s how to look after your teak the right way:
Maintain with Teak Protector
New teak furniture usually starts out a warm, pale golden brown, though the exact tone can vary depending on the natural grain of the wood. As it’s exposed to sun, rain, and changing temperatures, teak gradually fades to a soft silver-grey patina - a completely natural and much-loved characteristic of this hardwood. How quickly the colour changes depends on the environment: sunny, dry locations slow the process, while damp or shaded areas tend to speed it up.
If you’d prefer to hold onto that original golden colour for longer, our Teak Protector is designed to help. A light application creates an invisible barrier that slows the sun’s bleaching effect, helping your teak keep its freshly-sanded look for as long as possible.
Dual Purpose Teak Shield
Perfect for outdoor dining spaces, Teak Shield adds an extra layer of protection to your furniture - especially table tops. It forms a water- and dirt-resistant coating, making it much easier to wipe away spills before they soak in and leave a stain. It’s not essential for every piece of teak furniture, but Shield is a smart choice for surfaces that see regular use - such as dining tables, coffee tables, and side tables - helping them stay clean and fresh-looking.
If you're combining products, always apply Teak Protector first, then finish with Shield once the surface is dry.
Prefer the aged, silvery-grey look of weathered teak? Shield works for that too - it can be applied after your furniture has faded to preserve the patina and defend against mould, mildew, and moisture-related marks.
Revive & Restore with Teak Cleaner
For general cleaning, a simple wash with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth is all you need to remove surface dirt.
However, if your furniture has become discoloured, stained, or neglected over time, our specially formulated Teak Cleaner is the ideal solution. This powerful two-in-one product cleans and brightens, removing mildew and grime while restoring teak’s natural golden hue.
After cleaning, you can decide whether to maintain that colour using Shield, or allow the teak to fade again to grey and then apply Shield to protect the desired tone.
Avoid Common Mistakes
There are a couple of popular misconceptions about teak care worth clearing up:
1) Don’t use teak oil. Despite its name, teak oil isn’t suitable for high-grade teak furniture. It overrides the wood’s natural oils, potentially leading to dark staining and encouraging mildew growth. It also significantly alters the colour and can make your furniture harder to maintain long-term.
2) Skip the pressure washer. Power washing can be too harsh and damage the wood’s surface. Stick to gentle hand washing or use a hose on a normal setting. Ideally, clean your furniture once a year on a warm, dry day to allow for quick drying.
Extra Tips for Longevity
While teak is weather-resistant and fine to leave outdoors year-round, you can extend its life even further with a few extra measures:
1) Use breathable covers in winter or during long periods of bad weather to protect against excess dirt and moisture – just ensure they allow air flow to avoid trapping damp.
2) Store foldable or stackable furniture indoors during colder months if space allows – particularly smaller or more delicate pieces.
The Finishing Touch
Whether your style leans towards the rich, golden tones of freshly cut teak or the understated charm of its silvered patina, taking a little time to care for your furniture will go a long way. With Shield and Teak Cleaner on hand, you can enjoy your outdoor furniture looking its best – season after season.
Browse the full Teak Care collection
For more information please visit our website Corido.co.uk, call our friendly team on 020 8655 6242 or email us at [email protected]
