Cleaning Teak - AmegaWood.com

Cleaning Teak

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Cleaning Teak
A good cleaning product is Semco Teak Cleaner. Follow all directions on the bottle for best results. Also recommended is a 3m Scotchbrite ™ pad used for scrubbing in the direction of the grain. NEVER scrub your teak with a stiff brush, and avoid sanding if you can.

Part 1 - Dissolves dirt and old sealers
Part 2 - Neutralizes Part 1 and brightens teak

Follow with an application Semco Teak Sealer for a long lasting finish.

If the Teak is still Dark
If the teak is still dark or stained after drying for 24 hours, follow with an application of four ounces of oxalic acid crystals dissolved in 1 gallon of warm water in a non-metallic container. Oxalic acid is the active ingredient in most single-part teak cleaners. Oxalic acid will dull paint and fiberglass and damage anodized aluminum, so wet down surrounding surfaces before you start and keep them free of the cleaner. Spread the oxalic acid evenly then scrub it with a 3m Scotchbrite ™ pad, then let sit for a few minutes to work. Rinse the oxalic acid thoroughly brushing the wood with the pad to clear the grain.

Warnings
Avoid cleaning teak with an overly aggressive two-part acid type teak cleaner. The two-part cleaners do clean the teak, but they also have a tendency to eat away the light colored soft grain of the wood, leaving the darker colored grain and the overall surface with a rough, washboard effect. Some suggest using a stiff bristle brush for cleaning teak, but this too leaves the surface with the same rough condition. If the teak has been coated with some other type of sealer, teak coating, or varnish, it must be removed before any cleaning and or oiling can occur. Another method used to clean teak is pressure washing, which will also very efficiently remove the soft grain.

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