Teak is a noble and naturally resistant wood, but it nevertheless takes on a grayish hue after a few years. Some people don’t mind this wear-and-tear color, seeing it as a patina adding the nobility of the years to that of their boat, while others prefer to restore their teak deck to its original color. In the former case, simple cleaning will suffice, while the latter will need to use specialized products capable of recharging the teak wood with an oil equivalent to the oleoresin that naturally impregnates it and gives it its original color.
Teak’s undesirables
Teak’s worst enemy is abrasion: this naturally rot-proof wood holds up very well over time, as long as you respect it and clean it gently. High-pressure cleaners such as the famous Karcher should be avoided at all costs, as their pressurized jets inevitably deepen any crevices that appear in the wood, accelerating its erosion! Similarly, when brushing for cleaning, it’s essential to brush perpendicular to the direction of the wood, to avoid digging into existing grooves.
Products to use
The first step in maintaining a teak deck is simply to clean it gently with soapy water and re-wet it with seawater. This will suffice to restore its vigor, but not its original color: if you want to restore teak to its original shade, you’ll need specialized products such as Sun Teck, which will replenish the teak’s fat content after its native oleoresin has superficially disappeared.
How do I clean my deck?
The first step is to remove surface dirt by scrubbing with a soft brush and a wood-friendly solution: this can be simple soapy water, a homemade mixture of mild shampoos (typically baby shampoos) or a special teak care solution.
The finish will depend on the desired effect. Those who accept natural teak and its gray color will dampen the deck with seawater, whose salt will protect the teak from drying out (salt helps retain water). Others will use a product that replenishes the teak’s oil content, or even a complementary product with an additional protective effect.
