How to Remove Mould and Mildew from Teak Furniture Safely

Dark spots and a slightly musty smell showing up on your teak furniture is one of the more alarming things to discover, but it's also one of the more fixable problems, as long as you handle it the right way.

Why This Happens

Teak's natural resistance is mostly aimed at rot and water damage, not mould spores specifically. Given the right damp, shaded conditions — under a cover through a wet winter, in a low-airflow spot on a deck, or just after a stretch of humid weather — mould and mildew can take hold on the surface. This is very common and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your furniture structurally.

What Not to Do

Before getting into the right approach, a few things to avoid:

Don't use steel wool. It can leave tiny metal fragments embedded in the wood that rust and create dark stains of their own.

Don't reach for bleach as a first step. It can work, but it's harsh, and using it before trying gentler methods often isn't necessary.

Don't pressure wash aggressively to "blast it off." Too much pressure can roughen the wood surface, giving mould and mildew even more texture to grip onto next time.

The Right Approach

Start gentle. For light surface mould, a simple mix of mild soap and water with a soft-bristle brush or scour pad, scrubbing with the direction of the grain, is often enough to clear it.

Step up if needed. For more stubborn or widespread mildew, a cleaner designed specifically for teak works better than generic household cleaners, which can be too harsh or not effective enough. These are formulated to lift mould and grime without stripping the wood's natural oils the way an aggressive all-purpose cleaner might.

Rinse thoroughly and let it fully dry. Any leftover cleaner or moisture sitting in the grain can actually contribute to the problem coming back.

Address the cause, not just the symptom. If mold keeps returning in the same spot, look at why — is that area shaded and low-airflow? Sitting under a poorly-fitted cover? Solving the underlying moisture issue matters as much as the cleaning itself.

When It's More Than You Want to Tackle

If mildew has built up over a long period, covers a large surface area, or keeps coming back no matter what you try, that's usually a sign the furniture needs a fuller restoration — a deeper clean paired with light sanding to fully remove the affected surface layer, followed by sealing to help prevent it from returning as easily.

If your furniture's dealing with stubborn mould or mildew, send us a few photos and we'll let you know the best way to handle it. Get a free quote — serving Toronto, the GTA, and Muskoka.