As you probably guessed, we’re big fans of teak. With all of its virtues, who wouldn’t be? Since it has high levels of oil and rubber, it has a natural ability to prevent rotting and water absorption, which makes it a perfect choice for our teak shower benches. Plus, as it oxidizes and loses natural oils as time goes on, the color of the wood becomes a beautiful blue-gray shade.

But if you’re going to clean your teak, there are a few things to bear in mind. Keep reading for some easy teak cleaning tips.

• If your teak has been outdoors for a long period of time, and you see black spots on the wood, it’s not a defect. Those spots are just natural mold spores due to built up humidity, and they’ll disappear when you clean.
• If the wood starts to take on a yellowish color, don’t worry. This is the wood aging naturally under the finish. By giving it some sunshine, that color will gradually fade away.
• It’s best to avoid power sanding with teak products, since the heat caused by the sander can cause dark marks to appear.
• Teak has a natural golden color. To prevent the color from fading or turning gray, be sure to apply teak protector. When applying it, be sure the wood is completely dry, then apply a thin layer of protector with a dust free cloth. Next, you’ll want to wait 30 minutes for the protector to set, then you can apply a second thin coating.
• Like any other wood, teak will age naturally. A good rule of thumb is to clean your teak furniture yearly. For teak shower benches, cleaning it weekly is wise to prevent mold and mildew from growing.