Before you start a teak furniture care regimen, consider which of teak’s two states you want to preserve. New teak furniture is typically a honey brown color, with a polished finish, thanks to the wood’s natural oils. When teak furniture is left to age naturally outdoors, these surface oils evaporate and—over the course of 9-12 months—the sun’s UV light will turn teak’s brown color will into a silver-gray patina. This weathering doesn’t impact the durability of the teak, but it does give teak a more aged aesthetic.

You’ll want to tailor your teak furniture care based on which aesthetic you prefer—the polished look of new teak or the patina of teak’s weathered state.

Because weathered teak gives off a beautifully aged finish and requires minimal teak furniture care (it's virtually maintenance-free), many people choose to let their teak weather to a silver-gray. The good news: doing so is easy. Within 5-12 months of leaving your teak furniture outdoors in the sun, it will begin to develop a gray patina. You can speed up the process by using a graying agent like Golden Care’s Instant Gray or a whitener—which gives teak more of a silver-grey look—like Golden Care’s Teak Whitener. Both of these also help prevent the adhesion of dirt and mildew.

To maintain the golden-brown hue of new teak, UV protection is an essential step in your teak furniture care regimen. Consider placing your teak pieces under the cover or shade or in an area that doesn’t receive direct sunlight. You can also apply teak oil, color guard, or sealer to prevent the aging process. If your teak has already started to weather, use a good teak cleaner or hand-sand your piece with fine-grit sandpaper, which will remove the outer grey layer and restore the original golden shade.

Cleaning teak furniture once a year with a soft-bristled brush and soapy water will remove most accumulated dirt. To remove and prevent mold and mildew, use a mold and mildew cleaner. To prevent food or drink stains, you can also use a stain-shield solution, which creates a water-based “shield” that prevents stains from seeping through.

It’s also important to know what not to do when it comes to teak furniture care. Avoid pressure-washing teak, which can scour and roughen the wood’s surface, or steel wool, which can create rust spots.

Covering your teak furniture is not a must, as teak can be left outdoors uncovered in any environment. However, when thinking about how to care for teak outdoor furniture, a furniture cover can be a great option for the winter months—or any period when your furniture isn’t in use. Make sure to choose a material that allows your furniture to breathe, while also offering protection from the elements. However, as long as you’re following the general guidelines of teak furniture care, this is simply an extra step.