Cleaning Teak anyone?

[richardbur10]

Anyone cleaning their teak might be interested to note that I just cleaned all my teak beautifully using a bottle of liquid Cascade. It costs $5.50 including tax for a 75oz bottle vs. $15.00 for a 32oz bottle of Starbrite Teak Cleaner. The beauty is that is has basically the same ingredients; sodium hydroxide, sodium hypoclorite (bleach) as well as sodium carbonate, and sodium silicate. Just wet the teak, drizzle it on, scrub with a brush and hose off.

[malyea]

I'm gonna give it a try on my '82 Hunter 30 where the teak has been let go way too long...

...in fact, my "mate's" finger picked up a teak splinter next to the companionway this weekend.

If the teak is worn/old enough that it has surface splinters, will sanding it smooth before cleaning address the splinter issue - or is it just too far gone?

[richardbur10]

Clean first then sand if you need to. It will save you a lot of elbow grease.

[g0twind]

You just saved me buying teak cleaner. Thanks!

[richardbur10]

Let me know how it works out for you.

[SPC]

Why bother cleaning? Unless you are in an area where it is so moist that you fight organic growth that is slippery and dangerous, it seems that anything that you do reduces the life of the teak. You remove oils or you remove physical material or both, right? Why do that?

[richardbur10]

Originally Posted by SPC

Why bother cleaning? Unless you are in an area where it is so moist that you fight organic growth that is slippery and dangerous, it seems that anything that you do reduces the life of the teak. You remove oils or you remove physical material or both, right? Why do that?

That is one line of thought. Some people like their teak to be gray and weathered. I don't necessarily spend my life doing teak but I find that without some maintenance and protection of the teak it gets very grainy and splinters start to form which is not good for feet and hands. I don't believe in machine sanding the teak but hand sanding with 150 grain sandpaper after it is cleaned and applying some type of oil or protectorant I don't believe hurts it and it kind of looks nice. To each their own.

[redunculous]

Richard

What do you treat it with after may I ask?

I have some greyed out teak and would like to give it back its colour

Thanks

[richardbur10]

Originally Posted by redunculous

Richard

What do you treat it with after may I ask?

I have some greyed out teak and would like to give it back its colour

Thanks

Actually I use the same product for both interior and exterior and even though it does not say "boat" on it, it gives a beautiful color and lasts really well. It is Wipe on Poly by Minwax, about $12 at ACE hardware. It is actually an oil with a polyurethane blended in for hardness. You don't paint it on you wipe it on with a saturated rag. It brings out the natural teak color and seals it nicely. After lightly sanding the cleaned teak, I wipe it on. Let it dry then lightly sand again and repeat the wipe on process. Be sure to tape off any area you do though to keep if off the glass. If you get some on you can remove it pretty easily by wet sanding. I find it does not chip like varnish and does not give it a yellow color like Cetol and lasts a hell of a lot longer than teak oil.

[redunculous]

Thank you

My teak is all down below so I will test that out

Do you have to sand and if so what do you recommend grit wise?

My teak is not damaged just discoloured I would say (although I need to inspect further to make sure thats true!)