What is the best way to remove stains from a teak table? There are different possibilities and therefore different answers to this question. It depends not only on how the table is processed, but also on whether the table has been treated and what exactly has been smeared on the table. It is also dependent on the desired appearance. To simplify matters for you, here are some examples with the corresponding options:
Untreated Teak Table
If you spill on an untreated teak table (e.g. coffee, juice or wine), you can prevent permanent staining by immediately wiping the stain with a wet rag and a bit of 'green soap/soft soap'. Do not forget to always dilute the soap. If the stain has already remained for a day or more, a wet rag may not be enough to remove the stain.
If you can’t remove the stain with a rag, we recommend trying a mixture of green soap and water and a coarse sponge. If that does not work, we recommend that you gently scrub the stain off with sandpaper. Always use fine sandpaper, e.g. 220. Since teak is an oily type of wood, the stains generally do not penetrate very deeply into the wood. Most stains are on the surface and can be removed with fine sandpaper. Of course, if this does not work, you can also choose a slightly coarser sandpaper. You should then finish the job with fine sandpaper. Note that the scrubbed area is slightly lighter than the rest of the table, but that changes after a while.
Treated teak (oil, varnish, etc.)
Even on a treated teak table, stains can arise, for example due to wet glass edges or when children have painted the table with felt-tip pens. Of course you can first try to remove the stain with a wet cloth, but often this has little to no effect. It is best to try to polish the table with fine sandpaper. If that's not enough, you can also choose a slightly coarser sandpaper. The scrubbed area will then be slightly lighter for a while than the rest of the table, but that will change after a while. If your table has been treated with oil, it is best to rub the stain spot and then treat it with oil a few times. Over time, you will be able to see that the colour will adjust to the rest. Unfortunately, our trick does not work on lacquer-treated tables. In this case, you will need to scrub and repaint the entire table.
In short, this means you can remove most stains from your teak table with a wet rag and diluted green soap. If that is not enough, you can try it first with a coarser sponge. The last option is to scrub the stain spot. All this, however, depends on the desired look of the table. Many people precisely like a table that shows signs of its past!
The ways to remove stains are based on our own experiences and the experiences of our customers. Would you like to prevent staining or would you simply like to know more about the care of your teak table? More information can be found under Maintaining Teak Furniture.
Removing green coating teak furniture
After wet periods, green coating (algae & moss) may appear on your teak furniture. This can easily be removed using the soapy water mix, which is as follows: Prepare a mixture in a bucket with 4-6 tablespoons of soda and green soap. Wash your teak furniture and let it soak well. Then wipe it off after 5-10 minutes with a sponge and rinse with water. Your teak furniture will look as usual. Apparently, this method is also often used for boat decksmade of teak. Of course you can also buy ready-made remedies that offer the same result, but they are much more expensive.
Removing stains from a teak garden table
Caring for a teak garden table is slightly more complicated than for a comparable indoor model. When removing stains, however, follow the same protocol. If you accidentally spill liquids such as drinks, you need to act quickly. Once the stain arises, treat it immediately with warm water and some soft soap; you can remove it on an untreated garden table usually without residue. If the immediate action is not sufficient, repeat the procedure with a lye of green soap and lukewarm water. Mechanical aids such as sandpaper are only used with stubborn stains. First work the affected area with a fine-grained sandpaper. If this is unsuccessful, use coarse sandpaper. The scrubbed spot becomes a bit brighter, but darkens over time.