Removing Mold and Mildew from Teak Furniture

Quality teak furniture is extremely mold and mildew resistant due to the density of the wood and the natural oils and resins present in the product.While the wood itself will resist mold and mildew; these contaminants will attach to dirt, leaves and other debris on your furniture. If left to sit for an extended period of time, the mold or mildew will eventually penetrate the wood.You can lower the probability of mold or mildew attaching to your furniture by keeping it clean. Simply hose if off when it gets dirty and wipe in down. (As we’ve mentioned here before, never pressure wash your teak furniture.) Often, simply cleaning the product with soap and water with a scrub brush or sponge as we’ve suggested will remove the contaminants if they have not had time to settle in too deep.If this simple cleaning does not completely do the job, the next step is to repeat the cleaning process with a diluted solution of bleach. Add about 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water and scrub the furniture with a sponge similar to the ones used for cleaning. You can let the solution sit on the product for a few minutes. Then wash off with clean water and dry with a towel.*NOTE: This bleach solution may damage other painted or stained surfaces, outdoor rugs, etc. You may want to use a drop cloth or move the furniture to the lawn or a surface you don’t mind getting messed up.If this has not solved the problem, a light sanding of the surface should help.Read our other blogs and visit our teak furniture website to learn why teak from Thailand is the best and how not all teak furniture is created equally.Connect with me at my Google+ Profile