How to Care for Your Teak Furniture
We are very much aware of the fact that your outdoor furniture has to withstand the sometimes unforgiving changes in the weather it has to endure, from the scorching sun to the freezing snow. That is why we have chosen the best the industry has to offer to ensure the beauty of your furniture with the least amount of maintenance.
Unlike many products available in stores today, our range of high-performance furniture-care products are completely safe for the environment. All our products are completely free of harmful solvents (volatile organic compounds) and will not cause skin irritation on contact since they are water-based.
Weathering
of Teak
Teak
Teak is a durable hardwood with dense grain and high natural oil content; qualities that afford it little or no care. Its high-oil and silica content makes it highly resistant to rotting, warping or splitting, allowing it to withstand the extremities of weather including sun, rain, and snow.
Untreated, natural teak will weather to a handsome soft silvery patina within a year or so, depending on the amount of sun and weathering it is being exposed to. However, this will not compromise the structural integrity of your furniture in any way, as the change of pigment is only on the surface. The rate of weathering is dependent on the climate and extremities of the weather in your area.
1
New
Apply Teak Protector to maintain the honey hue of original teak. Left untreated, it will gracefully fade to a silvery grey tone.
2
After 6 months
Weathering depends on climate and amount of direct sunlight.
3
After 1 year
Use our Teak Cleaner to restore teak to its original color or apply Teak Patinizer to maintain naturally fading silver tone.
Better Teak Care
Cleaning and Maintaining Teak
To clean the wood from the day-to-day grime, use a soft bristle brush and soapy water or pad to remove an accumulation of dirt. Finish by hosing it down with water. Depending on the environment, you shouldn’t have to do this more than twice a year. Over the years, your furniture would weather gracefully. However, for best results in ensuring lasting use and enjoyment of your teak investment, we recommend the following: To restore your teak furniture to its original color, use our Teak Cleaner. This water-based environmentally friendly solution penetrates deep into the wood removing mildew, mold and dirt. If you prefer to maintain the original honey hues of teak, use the Teak Protector at the beginning and at the end of the season to enjoy the clean new look of teak year-round. Our Teak Patinizer will keep the soft silver-grey hue as the seasons pass.
Checking
Over time, teak like all other hardwoods, can show small cracks in the end grains or "head" of the wood. This is a natural occurrence as the wood finds dimensional stability and a new state in its new environment as a piece of furniture. These little cracks or "checking" should not affect the structural integrity of the furniture.
Unless it is severe, checking is primarily a cosmetic flaw and it is, for all intents and purposes, self-limiting. Once the wood is at equilibrium with its environment, the checks won't get any worse and will possibly close up, at least partially, on their own. By slowing down the excessive moisture loss from the wood's end grain, you will have basically done all that you can to prevent them from spreading further. Gluing or filling the checks may be an option, but it will probably make them more obvious, prevent them from closing on their own, and cause problems later when you try to apply a finish.
Stainless Steel
Westminster utilizes commercial-grade stainless steel to manufacture its furniture. Every detail is made to ensure the quality of the welds and finishes meets our stringent standards. As with all materials left outdoors, stainless steel requires regular maintenance to ensure it looks like new.
Although stainless steel has been generally regarded as the product that does not rust, as the word seems to suggest, its surface, though resistant to corrosion, is still subjected to cosmetic deterioration. These brown "spots" appearing on the surface may be caused by air-borne pollutants in urban areas or salt in areas that are closer to the coast. However, these discolorations are purely superficial and would not affect the mechanical strength or integrity of the furniture in any way.
A simple cleaning occasionally will quickly bring it back to its original luster. Use a Scotchbrite pad or similar product to clean the brown spots on the stainless steel by gently rubbing in the direction of the brushed finish. If these brown spots are allowed to accumulate and build up over time, we urge you to use our Stainless Steel Cleaner, which will remove any dirt, oil, and other pollutants from stainless steel furniture. It will also act to restore the stainless steel to its original luster.
Textilene
Made from synthetic all-weather material, Textilene® is a high-performance PVC-coated fabric that is both flame retardant and mildew resistant. It is also fade (UV) and tear resistant making it ideal for outdoor use. The strong breathable mesh conforms to the shape of the human form while allowing air circulation at all contact points, giving it its cradling comfort feature. Left outside, Textilene® requires little or no maintenance. Use non-foaming products only as foaming products could leave a residue in-between weaves. For best results, use our Textilene® Cleaner.
Cushions
Each of our cushions are filled with high-performance foam core with Dacron® wrap, ensuring better quick drying. Choose from the myriad of stunning colors and patterns of Sunbrella® fabrics. Woven from solution-dyed acrylic, Sunbrella® fabrics are made to withstand the extremes of outdoor weather, making it UV, fade, and mildew resistant. Covers unzip for easy cleaning. For detailed information on cleaning Sunbrella® fabrics, we recommend reading further at Sunbrella Outdoor Furniture Care. For more information or questions on cushions, please call one of our customer representatives at 888-592-8325.
