Teak again - clean along or across the grain?

srah1953

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 Jun 2007
Messages
493
Location
Ireland, Carlingford
Visit site
In a recent thread on cleaning teak, one of the posters said only to clean across the grain and I think I've read this before. I was looking at an old YM feb 2012 and in a reply to a question Goodacre Boat repairs said specifically to clean along the grain.
Any thoughts?
 
I was looking at the J's in Falmouth yesterday. Talked to the crew on Velsheda. Their teak looks stunning.

They wash it once a month with a sponge and a bucket (or 20) of water with normal washing powder as in the stuff from your washing machine.
 
I was looking at the J's in Falmouth yesterday. Talked to the crew on Velsheda. Their teak looks stunning.

They wash it once a month with a sponge and a bucket (or 20) of water with normal washing powder as in the stuff from your washing machine.

Did they say whether they brushed with or across grain? Perhaps it was just a typographical error in YM to say go with grain - maybe Snooks could check?!?
 
Did they say whether they brushed with or across grain? Perhaps it was just a typographical error in YM to say go with grain - maybe Snooks could check?!?

With a light sponge it makes little difference, but they were def across the grain.
 
Last edited:
We always use a scotch bright sort of scouring pad and it doesn't seem to make much difference which way we scrub - but then our teak is very old. I try not to scrub with the grain too much - just in case!

I'll second dishwasher powder - or we sometimes use biological washing powder. I used to use SEMCO but washing powder is almost as effective and much cheaper.
 
Teak should always be gently scrubbed across the grain.

The softer grains of the "teak sandwich" erode quickly if scrubbed WITH the grain - then the teak becomes pitted with valleys.

Salt water and a gentle brush across the grain works for me.

Graeme
 
Top