Small wonder why teak furniture continues to be popular in homes today. Indoors or outdoors, teak is a smart choice for homeowners who cherish fine furnishings that exude class and timeless charm.

Keeping your teak looking beautiful is pretty straightforward. As any old salt will tell you, a few simple steps can keep your teak furniture looking like new for years.

First, don't ever apply consumer level polishes and waxes to your teak furniture. You want to use true teak oil instead. It's usually available from a marine supply store or online. This is not a finish. It is teak oil, like they use on boat wood.

The oil can be applied to your teak furniture with a clean brush. Start from one end and work your way to the other, or go from top to bottom if you're applying the teak oil to the back of a chair or table legs. You want the surface to be damp but not wet. Keep working the wood with the oil, removing any extraneous liquid. In 5 to 15 minutes, the oil will start to become tacky on your teak furniture. At this point, wipe the teak furniture down with a clean cotton rag. Remove all the oil that will come off but don't rub the surface. One coat of oil is plenty.

Teak oil will get dirty and darken over time. As such, you will need to scrub the old oil off your teak furniture once a year and recoat. When used indoors, you just need to put a light coat on the furniture and you don't have to recoat for several years.

When shopping for teak furniture, look for pieces that are finely crafted. The pieces should fit together nicely and the finish should be smooth to the touch. A lot of teak furniture comes au natural. Don't be surprised. Many manufacturers believe that teak looks best when it is left in its natural state. Since teak is naturally water repellant, it won't need to be waterproofed. The use of teak oil will help your teak furniture maintain its color and character.

When shopping for teak furniture, don't be too concerned with variations in color. This is natural in teak, since it is left in its natural state as much as possible. Be sure to test the furniture for comfort. Pieces from different manufacturers can look the same but have different dimensions. It's best to buy your teak furniture from a single manufacturer or store.

Finally, once you get your teak furniture, be sure to inspect it for any damages in transit. Most reputable companies will be happy to arrange for returns or exchanges if you do this immediately. If you wait and discover the damage later, it will be harder to return since they have no way to know if it was damaged by the shipper or every day use.