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Furniture made from Teak wood is prized by many owners because of this great ability to withstand any weather condition. But, when left untreated it tends to age to a beautiful soft gray color. Some owners do not like this grey tint and would prefer to refinish their teak pieces to restore the natural deep brown color. Do-it-yourself teak furniture restoration takes some work and a few man-hours to complete, but is not overly complicated. It does however, require you to follow a certain procedure to restore the wood to its natural and original color.

You first need to clean your teak furniture with a mild soapy made of liquid dish washing soap and water. Wipe down the furniture with a clean cloth you previously dip in the solution. Clean crevices, corners or carvings with a small household brush or toothbrush, once finished allow the furniture piece to dry completely.

Apply an acid free stripper to the furniture piece to remove any wax, sealer or varnish. Remember to use a safety mask and goggles when using the stripper. Be sure to follow all the manufacturers recommendations when using this type of product. After applying the product allow it to set for a few minutes and wipe off or scrape off the flaking finish. Be careful says not to scratch the delicate teak wood.

Allow the furniture piece to dry again and sand out any scratches with a medium grade sandpaper. When working with sandpaper always sand with the grain to avoid scratching the piece any further. When your finish, rub steel wool over the surface to smooth out the finish. Applying teak oil with a clean cloth will finish your piece with a rich deep color. This sanding and oiling process will bring back the natural color of the teak. If you want to keep this original color constant, then you should finish the piece with a spray-is on sealer.

Although teak restoration can be a home project for the do it yourself lover, it is a process that takes time. Some people may not have the time or the capability of doing this type of restoration. In these cases the solution may be to simply take the piece to a professional teak restoration expert.