Furniture Care

For 23 years Danish Teak Classics has been restoring vintage Danish teak furniture to preserve the smart design and classic appeal we still admire after 50 years or more.  We’ve learned from the experience of hundreds of tables and chairs, sofas and bookshelves how to care for these unique pieces. Here are some care guidelines for your Danish teak, white oak, and rosewood furniture.

See furniture care products

Teak Furniture

Our teak furniture is oiled to protect its beauty and maintain a matte luster.  Your teak furniture will resist staining and rings more easily if you keep it well oiled.  A general rule:  If it looks dry, oil it.  At first you may need to oil more often.  Eventually, once or twice a year will be enough to keep your teak stain-resistant and looking good.

Oiling

1. Wear protective gloves and open windows for fresh air. 
2. Use a piece of old t-shirt about the size of your hand so your oil ends up on the furniture instead of soaked into a rag.
3. Apply the oil* to cloth and wipe a generous amount onto the surface.  Allow it to soak in 1-3 hours.
4. Buff off with a clean absorbent rag or paper towel in grain direction until wiping towel comes off clean.

*DTC imports and supplies a unique Danish Cabinetmakers’ teak oil formula.  It contains no chemical driers so it has lower odor and soaks into the wood instead of forming a film on the surface.  You can make your own slightly smelly-er teak oil by thinning RAW linseed oil with equal parts mineral spirits.

Cleaning Spills and Rings

1. Wipe up spills and scrub rings right away with a sponge and light soapy water.
2. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and allow to dry.  The scrubbed area will appear lighter until you re-oil it.
3. If the grain feels fuzzy, lightly sand with 400 grit sandpaper with the grain until smooth before you re-oil.
4. Saturate the area and oil the rest of the piece while you’re at it.

 Cautions

1. Avoid “Boiled Linseed Oil” available at most hardware stores and don’t use furniture polish containing any form of silicone as these products can interfere with refinishing and long-term care.
2. Prevent rings by reducing prolonged exposure to moisture from potted plants and beverages.

Rosewood Furniture

DTC’s Rosewood furniture is generally coated with clear lacquer as it has been done since the 50s. 

Cleaning and Care

1. Use a soft cloth or sponge dampened with light soapy water to clean the surfaces of your furniture as needed.  Wipe clean with a damp cloth, followed by a dry cloth.
2. Optional:  A soft paste wax can help renew the shine and protect your vintage rosewood from scratches.  Apply soft wax with a clean cloth and buff off with the grain.

Caution

1. Placement of hot objects on a lacquered surface can cause discoloration.  Avoid exposure to heat and prolonged exposure to alcohol and chemicals.          

White Oak Furniture

For a lighter whiter oak, we use a Danish soap finish.  For less contrast with our teak/oak pieces, we use oil.  See Oiling in our Teak Furniture heading.

Soap Finish

1. We use a sudsy mix of phosphate free European laundry soap flakes and warm water.  The first coat of our soap finish is sponged on like a thick soup.  Rub the soap into the wood and let it dry. Then buff off like wax.
2. The moisture from the soap mixture often “raises the grain” of the oak so it feels fuzzy.  We smooth it back down with 400 grit sandpaper and repeat the soap application, buffing, and sanding until the grain no longer raises.  This usually takes 3 applications with light sanding between coats.