How To Care For A Teak Dining Table

Unwaxed teak dining furniture from stores like The Teak Place looks beautiful, and if you look after it properly, you'll never need to replace it.  Here's how to care for your teak dining table so that it will last you a lifetime.

What you'll need

• teak oil (available from DIY stores)
• duster
• vacuum cleaner
• rubber gloves
• cleaning rag
• old toothbrush

How to do it

1. The first thing to do is to clean your teak table so that it's free from dust.  Use a soft duster and dampen it before you start.  This helps to pick up the dust, rather than just spreading it around.  Wipe over the whole of the table top first.  
2. Now, move on to cleaning the underside of the table and the legs.  Use the hose of your vacuum cleaner with the soft brush attachment to suck out all dust and cobwebs, and then go over the area with your damp duster.  You'll need to crawl around on your hands and knees to make sure you find all the nooks and crannies.  
3. Before you start the next step, open a window to make sure that the room you're working in is well-ventilated.  This is important because teak oil gives off unpleasant fumes, and you don't want to breathe them in as you work.  Keep doors to the room closed to prevent the fumes escaping into the rest of the house.  
4. Put your rubber gloves on to protect your hands.  Using a cleaning rag that has not been used for anything else, apply teak oil to the table.  Make sure that you cover the whole of the table top, including the sides.  Move on to applying oil to the underside of the table, using an old toothbrush to work it well into the seams and joints.  
5. Allow an hour or so for the oil to be absorbed, and then reapply as in step #4.  
6. The following day, check to make sure that all the oil has been absorbed into the teak.  Use a clean duster to polish up the finish, and your teak dining table should now look as good as new.

It's a good idea to carry out this maintenance regime once every couple of months, especially if your dining table is positioned in direct sunlight where it will dry out quickly.  In between oiling, use a damp duster to keep your table looking tidy.

In conclusion

It's easy to keep your teak dining table looking as good as new by cleaning and oiling it regularly as per the above guidelines.  Always use oil that's specifically designed for use on teak furniture, and avoid using spray wax polishes that may damage the finish.