Teak - Just Wash It

[Ducati]

Last year I sanded all of the Cetol off our cockpit seats. Since then I just give them a light wash (once every two weeks) and they always look great. I use a mild soap, and scrub them against the grain with a worn (not new) 3M pad. It takes 5 minutes.

In my opinion, Cetol, varnish and all the other teak protection coatings are a complete rip-off.

 

[DougM]

I took my teak down to bare wood last year. To keep it looking fresh, I have simply used a modearately stiff scrub brush and coarse salt in a bucket of water. (Its called pickling salt and can be purchased at a grocery store for less than a dollar for a box.)

 

[Forrest15112]

Mine, all of four small pieces, has always been bare, except for a coat of boiled linseed oil. I was wondering what does the coarse salt do? Is it used for abrasiveness and stain removal? It also seems that rubbing any wood across the grain with anything abrasive would eventually produce a rough finish. Maybe I misunderstand "against the grain". On my boat, I clean the teak about once a year and rub 2 coats of oil in. It easily lasts a year and is much cheaper than teak oil. That reminds me, I need to do this.

 

[caguy]

Do you guys have pictures of your teak? I oiled the hatch doors last month and the inside looks great but the outside is all faded again.

 

[Mike B]

Try Teak Guard it's water based, non slippery, easy to apply and leaves the teak looking great. Check on www.myboatstore.com for product tips, prices, etc.

 

[All U Get]

What about the cabin sole with the teak and holly floor boards? What would make a nice covering?
All U Get

 

[Ducati]

Salt.

I forgot to mention that salt (any salt) really does a good job too.

Go figure...