Warm, elegant and with that unmistakable golden tone: teak is one of the most beautiful parts of a boat. But in Gran Canaria it has two enemies that never rest, the sun and the salt. Without a little care, in just a few months it goes from golden to grey and rough. The good news is that keeping it beautiful is easy if you follow a few rules — and, above all, if you avoid the mistakes that ruin it. This is the guide we apply at Mar Brillo.
A demonstration video of how teak is cleaned step by step. At Mar Brillo we do it for you, with biological products and no abrasives.
Why teak turns grey in the Canaries
Teak is a noble wood with natural oils that protect it. Over time, the ultraviolet radiation — very intense in the Canaries all year round — breaks down those oils and the surface oxidises: it loses its golden tone and takes on that silvery grey. Salt and calima speed up the process and, if you also scrub hard or with aggressive products, you tear out the soft part of the grain and leave it grooved. In other words: often teak isn't ruined by dirt, but by how it's cleaned.
How to clean teak step by step
1. Wet it with plenty of fresh water. It softens the dirt and prevents dry scratching.
2. Neutral-pH marine soap and a soft-bristle brush. No scourers or metal brushes.
3. Always brush along the grain, gently. Never in circles or against the grain: you'd tear out the soft fibre.
4. Work in small areas and rinse before it dries, so no soap residue is left.
5. Let it dry in the shade if you can, and ventilate the seams to avoid mould.
Mistakes that ruin teak
- A hard or metal brush and scrubbing in circles or against the grain.
- Cleaners with bleach, acids or caustic soda: they whiten, but they destroy the wood and the seams.
- Sanding it every time it gets dirty: teak is only a few millimetres thick and gets used up.
- Direct high-pressure water: it lifts the fibre and damages the sikaflex seals in the seams.
- Leaving it soaked and unventilated: the perfect recipe for mould in the seams.
How often should you care for it?
For day to day, a fresh-water rinse after every trip and a gentle clean once a month are enough. A deep treatment — cleaning plus protection — once or twice a year keeps the colour and slows the ageing. On a boat berthed all year under the Canary sun, better lean towards twice. If you want a general guide to frequencies by area, you have it in how often you should clean a boat.
Golden or grey: treat it or let it age?
There are two schools here, and neither is the wrong one:
- Golden with teak oil: it brings back the warm colour and nourishes the wood, but the sun consumes it and you have to reapply every few months.
- Protected with a sealer: it lasts longer than oil and gives a uniform finish, though when it's time to renew it you have to strip the previous one.
- Natural grey: many owners choose to let it age. A clean, healthy grey teak is perfectly respectable and the one that needs the least maintenance.
Our advice: if you want the catalogue gold, count on reapplying the treatment; if you're after minimum maintenance, keep it clean and let it go grey with dignity.
Prefer to leave it in good hands?
At Mar Brillo we clean and treat your boat's teak with gentle, biological products, no abrasives and respecting the grain. We come to your berth anywhere in Gran Canaria. Free quote in 24 h.
💬 Get a teak quote on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
Can grey teak be recovered?
Yes, almost always. A specific cleaning removes the oxidised layer and the wood recovers its golden tone. Only if it's very worn does it need light, occasional sanding, always along the grain.
Teak oil or sealer?
Oil gives a natural gold and nourishes the wood, but the Canary sun consumes it and you have to reapply often. A sealer lasts longer and gives a uniform finish, though renewing it is more laborious. It depends on the maintenance you want to take on.
Can I use a pressure washer?
Better not, or only at low pressure and at an angle. High pressure lifts teak's soft fibre and damages the seam seals. Fresh water, neutral soap and a soft brush are safer.
How often should teak be treated?
Once or twice a year. With the Canaries' intense sun, on boats berthed all year it's best to lean towards twice, plus the rinse after each trip and the gentle monthly clean.