The city of Jepara in Central Java, Indonesia, is known for its carvings and teak wood indoor and outdoor furniture.
Apart from being used as outdoor furniture, many people also use teak wood to be used as indoor furniture in their homes. This is because teak indoor furniture has high aesthetic value and is more durable in terms of quality.
On the other hand, teak wood furniture also brings a cool natural atmosphere into the room of the house.
However, in order for the beauty and advantages to be maintained, it must be balanced with the right and proper care. If you have teak indoor furniture at home, here, Handmadefurnitures.com has prepared 10 tips to take care of your teak indoor furniture.
1. Clean teak indoor furniture regularly, from dust and dirt
Is it difficult to maintain teak indoor furniture on a regular basis? Of course not, all you have to do is wipe the surface of the wooden furniture with a soft cloth like a microfiber cloth evenly.
This method is applied so that the furniture still looks beautiful and always looks new.
If there are small gaps or carvings, don’t forget to clean the dust and dirt that also accumulates on the carvings. Use a small brush and other cleaning tools to remove dust or dirt on each surface.
Teak indoor furniture should be cleaned at least once a week and once a month with polish.
2. Use a special cleaning fluid
Still related to how to clean teak indoor furniture.
We recommend that you do the wiping using a special furniture cleaning liquid such as pledge or kit so that the color of the furniture is better maintained.
You can do this by spraying it on the surface of wooden furniture or on the sidelines that are difficult to reach. Then, it can be cleaned using a cloth and let dry.
Avoid using cleaning fluids that contain solvents such as methanol, toluene, and acetone. The reason is that these three chemicals can damage the furniture coating on teak wood.
3. Polish wood furniture with teak oil
Some people like wood furniture because it has a distinctive color and offers a warm feel in the room.
However, the natural color of teak indoor furniture will fade over time. Meanwhile, the oil contained in teak wood cannot continue to shine forever.
Therefore, you also need to refinish teak furniture. Furniture can be polished using natural teak oil. Rub gently with a soft rag, then allow it to dry.
Polish it every two to three years to keep it shiny, charming and even more antique.
4. Keep away from liquids
Placing wet plates, glasses or other objects can leave stains on the surface of teak indoor furniture. If this habit is continued, the stain can damage the texture of the furniture. Therefore, it must be cleaned immediately.
How to clean it is quite easy, just wipe the mixture of cooking oil with soda and toothpaste, then wipe gently using a soft cloth. Alternatively, you can crush a walnut kernel and rub the flakes over the stain.
Fortunately, teak furniture is quite forgiving. While you should clean up spills right away, teak can retain water for up to 12 hours without leaving marks and stains.
If scrubbing the stain with a soft cloth doesn’t help, try cleaning the countertop with a mixture of water and wood cleaner. But if you find stubborn stains, you can sand the area with fine sandpaper. Avoid using steel wool, scouring pads and metal brushes, as they can damage the finish of the wood.
5. Avoid furniture from direct sunlight
Exposure to sunlight, even sunlight that is not directly exposed to teak indoor furniture, can change the appearance of teak wood surfaces and change the color of the wood to a dull silver gray. While this discoloration of the wood does not indicate damage to the furniture, it is a sign of surface oil evaporation, and is normal.
This discolored can occur in untreated wood after about six months, and exposure to sunlight. But don’t worry, you can restore the gold’s shine by cleaning the countertop and then applying a sealer.
In addition, installing a humidifier at home can also extend the life of other teak indoor furniture. A humidity level between 50 and 55 percent is ideal for teak.
6. Protect the surface of teak indoor furniture
Even though teak is a hardwood, you still need to protect the surface of the teak dining table with tablecloths and table mats during meals with the family, and use soft placemats for snacking or drinking coffee.
If you use a teak study table, be sure to use a sturdy cardboard base during homework or craft sessions. Because a sharp pencil on paper can mark its surface.
In addition, avoid using plastic covers or non-porous covers which cause the teak table to not be able to breathe. This can promote the growth of mold and mildew. If you need a plastic tablecloth in a pinch, remove it as soon as possible so the table can breathe.
7. Protects teak indoor furniture from mold growth
Being indoors does not mean that furniture can be protected from the growth of mold and mildew.
If you live in a humid area, make sure you can combat mold from appearing on your furniture. Fortunately, teak’s natural oils prevent the wood from fungal attack. But mold and mildew can still be a threat to furniture, and more importantly, it can also threaten the health of you and your family, according to teakanddeck.com.
We usually warn people not to use high-pressure hoses to remove mold from their furniture. This is because the intense pressure stream can permanently damage your furniture. Instead, you can use various homemade solutions to get rid of mold growing on teak indoor furniture.
However, if you don’t have enough time for a complete teak furniture maintenance routine, you can contact a professional teak cleaning company.
8. Using teak protection
If you want teak indoor furniture to retain its color, you need to use teak protectors. This will give the wood coating UV protection and prevent mold growth.
Teak protectors also create a barrier between the wood and air, preventing oxidation, which causes the wood to turn gray. This type of protector will also protect the teak from oil stains from food and drink. Greasy foods, ketchup and some drinks are common items that can stain furniture.
9. Routinely clean and open table top extensions
Whether you use it frequently or not, the countertop needs to be cleaned regularly to remove accumulated dirt. You will need to open the table extension and use a regular hose with a high pressure nozzle to clean the table frame and the rails on the table top.
Use a brush to remove stubborn dirt. After cleaning, the wood may enlarge and it may be difficult to restore the table top. However this is normal and once dry they can be closed again.
Regardless of whether you frequently use the table as a whole or not, it is important to modulate the mechanism regularly to ensure that no parts are damaged. Get into the habit of opening and closing the extension table every few weeks to make sure everything moves freely.
The hinges on the table top should also be lubricated with a few drops of oil, you can do this three or four times a year.
10. Treat teak furniture well
If you want to move the position of teak indoor furniture, move it carefully. Do not move it directly above the floor surface, because this sliding action will damage the wood material of the furniture.
The best and most correct way when moving teak furniture is to lift it up, not pull the backrest. However, if you are going to move a cupboard from teak, then empty the cupboard before moving it.
Meanwhile, to protect the surface of teak wood furniture from scratches, you should add a tablecloth on top. Meanwhile, on the sofa, provide foam as a seat.
By paying a little attention to teak wood furniture, it will definitely last longer.
So, those are 10 tips to take care of your teak indoor furniture.There are many advantages of owning teak indoor furniture. Unlike other types of wood, teak requires little or no maintenance to keep it in good condition.
By following these easy and effective teak furniture care tips, you can keep your valuable furniture longer. Before leaving, don’t forget to check our Teak Outdoor Furniture Care and Cleaning