I love teak garden furniture. Not only is it elegant and stylish; but if you take care of it then your furniture will last a life time.

At least once a year (more if you are using your furniture regularly) you should give your teak a good clean.

I have tried to outline some do's and don't to keep in mind when cleaning your garden furniture.

To properly clean your furniture you will need

• One soft, dam cloth
• One soft scrubbing brush
• A bucket of warm soapy water
• A hose pipe
• Sealand (optional)

Gently wipe down your teak furniture with a soft damp cloth, and then buff with a dry cloth.

Use only a soft scrubbing brush to wash your teak furniture making sure you clean all areas especially if this is the first clean of the year; dust has a tendancy to gather in cracks and crannies.

Never ever use a steel wool or scouring pad as they will scratch and ruine the surfaces of your furniture.

Wash your furniture with a warm soapy water. There are special teak furniture cleaners on the market but I persoanlly feel that washing-up liquid and water work just as well.

Rinse off the soap with a hose.

Never use a pressure washer to clean your furniture; by using a pressure washer you can cause damage to the grain.

Finally dry the furniture and add sealant. This is an optional stage but it is something that is worth doing once a year to keep the furniture set looking tip-top and clean year after year.

Get to stains immediately after they occur, especially bird mess which can either permanently stain or bleach your furniture.

Although teak is a solid furniture that will remain in good condition regardless of the weather - many people, myself included alway put their teak garden furniture away during the winter months.