The Good Oil: How to Care for Mid-Century Teak Furniture
If you're lucky enough to own a coveted piece of mid-century teak furniture, here's how to keep it in prime condition
From the ‘love it, then look after it’ files comes this advice on how to care for your precious teak mid-century furniture so you – and future generations – can continue to admire and enjoy it.
The mid-century aesthetic originated in Scandinavia, with key innovators being Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl and Arne Jacobsen, along with husband and wife Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson from the USA. In Australia, designers such as Grant Featherston and Clement Meadmore led the movement.
From Juhl’s teak dining table to the Eames teak lounge chair and ottoman, these well-known pieces may be few and far between, but they can still be found by the diligent shopper at mid-century vintage stores, auction houses and online. So, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on an original piece of mid-century designer furniture, it’s important that you know how to take care of it.
From Juhl’s teak dining table to the Eames teak lounge chair and ottoman, these well-known pieces may be few and far between, but they can still be found by the diligent shopper at mid-century vintage stores, auction houses and online. So, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on an original piece of mid-century designer furniture, it’s important that you know how to take care of it.
Which oil is best for mid-century furniture?
Here’s the first (and most important) tip: if your furniture looks or feels dry, then it is in desperate need of oil… and generally a few coats of it.
Adding layers of natural teak oil means the pores of the wood will fill out to provide a smooth finish. This will accentuate your teak’s colours and grains.
Tip: Always buy furniture oil from a reputable supplier. Better yet, ask a furniture restoration specialist to oil the piece for you.
Here’s the first (and most important) tip: if your furniture looks or feels dry, then it is in desperate need of oil… and generally a few coats of it.
Adding layers of natural teak oil means the pores of the wood will fill out to provide a smooth finish. This will accentuate your teak’s colours and grains.
Tip: Always buy furniture oil from a reputable supplier. Better yet, ask a furniture restoration specialist to oil the piece for you.
A few pointers when it comes to selecting oil:
- Choose a natural, non-toxic, premium teak oil that contains no petroleum distillates.
- Be careful when considering the use of oils that are simply branded for Scandinavian indoor furniture, as they tend to be for light oaks.
- Don’t use polish that contains any form of silicone, as it can interfere with long-term care.
- Do not use teak oil that includes a finish as it will stain; instead, opt for a natural (non- coloured) teak oil.
How do I oil mid-century furniture?
- For small items such as pendant lights or clocks, place multiple layers of newspaper underneath your item to protect the surface you’re oiling it on. You can also place newspaper under the legs of tables, chairs and other larger pieces to protect your floors.
- If you have pets, try to oil your items in places they can’t reach – there’s nothing worse than finding pet hair in a layer of oil.
- Wear gloves (and clothes you’re happy to get dirty), and if you have long hair tie it back.
- Dust your furniture.
- With a lightly damp (not wet) cloth, wipe your item and allow it to dry. This will ensure you get off all the dust.
- Open windows to allow fresh air in.
- Find a clean cloth (or an old cotton rag) that is about the size of your hand (having a cloth this size will ensure more oil ends up on your furniture, rather than soaking into your cloth).
- Apply a generous amount of oil to your cloth and wipe the surface of your furniture. Use a circular motion, moving in the direction of the grain.
- After you finish oiling you’ll notice the surface may be shiny and sticky to the touch. That means it’s time to allow the oil to soak in and absorb (this can take one to three hours depending on room temperature).
- Check your item every hour. If you see any dry spots in the wood, you’ll need to re-oil it. If you’re unsure, run your fingers over the wood to check the finish and feeling. If you’re not happy with it, then re-oil until you are.
- Allow your final coat of oil to dry for 24 hours, to ensure it’s fully absorbed.
How do I maintain mid-century furniture?
Now your teak furniture is back to its best, all you need to do is maintain it.
Now your teak furniture is back to its best, all you need to do is maintain it.
- Dust every two weeks (at least) and oil the item every six to 12 months.
- Pieces that are in direct sunlight or near heaters tend to require oiling more regularly, as the wood can fade or dry out faster than if placed in other areas of the home.
Also, remember to use coasters under glasses, sauces and pot plants that sit on teak pieces.
Tip: It’s also important to note that you should never use a finish such as varnish, varathane, urethane or anything that will seal the wood of your (indoor) teak furniture, as this counteracts the benefits of oiling.
6 Mid-Century Design Features That Look Better Than Ever
Tip: It’s also important to note that you should never use a finish such as varnish, varathane, urethane or anything that will seal the wood of your (indoor) teak furniture, as this counteracts the benefits of oiling.
6 Mid-Century Design Features That Look Better Than Ever
How do I clean stains and spills from mid-century furniture?
Who hasn’t made the mistake (or had a visitor make the mistake) of putting a pot plant or coffee mug directly onto a piece of teak furniture, only to be greeted by the appearance of those awful milky rings on the surface?
If so, don’t despair, here’s what you need to do to bring your beautiful piece back to its best:
Who hasn’t made the mistake (or had a visitor make the mistake) of putting a pot plant or coffee mug directly onto a piece of teak furniture, only to be greeted by the appearance of those awful milky rings on the surface?
If so, don’t despair, here’s what you need to do to bring your beautiful piece back to its best:
- Wipe up spills as soon as possible and, if needed, scrub the ring or spill area with a sponge and light soapy (mild detergent) water.
- Rinse the area with a clean damp cloth and allow it to dry (don’t worry if the scrubbed area appears lighter than the rest of your piece, re-oiling will help fix this).
- If the grain feels fuzzy, lightly sand with 400-grit sandpaper (in the direction of the grain) until smooth.
- Re-oil the entire surface once the area is dry (and after sanding if required).
Aside from their timeless beauty, perhaps the best thing about mid-century teak furniture pieces is that like a chameleon, they adapt to their environment to complement any decorating style. So as you continue to preserve your mid-century teak pieces for the next generation, know that despite the decorating style or trends they decide to adopt over time, your mid-century teak pieces will remain timeless… and well looked after.
Your turn
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More
Keen to see inside the mid-century modern home of an Australian design champion? Read My Houzz: Tim Ross’s Mid-Century Masterpiece
Your turn
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation!
More
Keen to see inside the mid-century modern home of an Australian design champion? Read My Houzz: Tim Ross’s Mid-Century Masterpiece
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