My general recommendation for those who want to protect and preserve the color of teak wood furniture is to choose a teak sealer rather than a teak oil. TotalBoat Danish Teak Sealer is one such sealer that is simple to use, effective, and produces a beautiful result.
Originally developed for protecting teak wood features on boats, TotalBoat Danish Teak Sealer is just as effective on indoor and outdoor teak furniture. In fact, its potential use is not limited to teak. It is also a good choice for sealing other tropical hardwoods such as acacia, shorea, and eucalyptus.
Why it’s important to seal teak wood
Danish Teak Sealer works by creating a sealed barrier to keep water, salt, dirt, and UV rays from penetrating the wood’s surface. Teak and other similar woods naturally lose color over time as the fresh wood is exposed to environmental factors such as humidity and ultraviolet light. What happens is the beautiful golden or caramel colored furniture set that you buy quickly deteriorates to appear a dull grayish color.
The color fade can begin within a few weeks and will start to get more noticeable after several months. If you take no steps to maintain your teak furniture, within just a couple years it can begin to look dingy, faded, and splotchy with mildew and mold stains.
Why I prefer teak sealer to teak oil
Teak oils are a popular remedy for bringing the color back to faded teak wood. They are pretty easy to apply and the initial results are usually fantastic. If it were as simple as that, I’d recommend teak oil every time, but teak oil actually has some disadvantages.
The first problem with teak oil is that the effect can be relatively short-lasting. Depending on the local environment, a teak oil coating can start fading in just a few weeks. After a couple months the change is more noticeable, and by 5 or 6 months your furniture is in sore need of a new teak oil treatment.
The second problem with teak oil is that it can sometimes be more damaging to the wood than not treating with anything at all. If there is any excess oil left on the surface, it creates a ripe breeding ground for fungus, mold, and mildew. Many people start out impressed with their teak oil treatments only to discover several months later that their furniture has become covered in tiny block spots.
Teak sealer, on the other hand, creates a barrier that keeps moisture and UV light out of the wood. Furthermore, a sealing treatment is good for 1-2 years, which greatly reduces the total amount of time, money, and effort you need to put into maintaining your furniture set.
How to use TotalBoat Danish Teak Sealer
First, you want to clean your teak thoroughly. A combination teak cleaner and brightener is great for this task. If you have deep stains or extreme color fade, then consider sanding off the very top layer of exposed wood as well.
Apply the sealer using a clean cloth rag or brush. I find that a foam brush works excellently. Use just enough to completely coat the surface.
After giving the product 30 minutes to penetrate, wipe up any excess from the surface.
Allow it time to dry (8-12 hours) and then apply a second coat.
Finally, give it a full day to completely dry before using the furniture.
Teak owners love it
TotalBoat Danish Teak Sealer is one of the most highly-rated teak wood protection products you can find. Amazon reviewers are overwhelmingly positive in their praise for Danish Teak Sealer, with over 90% giving it a perfect 5 of 5 stars.
