Yardbird’s patio furniture is handwoven from 100% high-density polyethylene (HDPE) wicker. HDPE possesses antimicrobial properties that inhibit fungus and mildew growth. That being said, even the most durable wicker should be cleaned periodically.

For Sunbrella fabrics, refer to the following cleaning guide here. or download the fabric stain guide here.

All Sunbrella fabrics are highly-resistant to water.  However, heavy or consistent rainfall will still get your cushions wet.  If your cushions do get wet, we recommend unzipping the cushions and propping them up to dry. 

Cushions will typically require 1-3 days in the sun to completely dry - though humidity and other weather conditions can extend this timeframe.  Properly drying your cushions is essential for the longevity of the foam.

With the exception of our Winnie, Isles and Calhoun collections, Yardbird frames are made with commercial-grade, rust and maintenance-free aluminum.  Most care needs will be met with mild soap and water, applied with a non-abrasive cloth and rinsed with water. For tougher spills or buildup, we recommend using a mixture of white vinegar and lukewarm water.

Teak is tropical species of hardwood with high levels of rubber and oil content making it highly resistant to insects, bacteria (mold/mildew), and water/humidity penetration. It is a beautiful, natural product that historically has been used for marine applications, such as building ships, due to its highly resilient nature. It is one of the gold standards of outdoor materials.

Upon receiving your new teak furniture, we highly recommend wiping down the frames with a damp cloth to remove any dust resulting from the shipment of your order.

Because teak wood is a natural product each piece will have a unique and varied appearance.  Aging will vary based on climate and exposure, but over a period of roughly 8-12 months teak wood will age to a natural silver-gray color (patina). This is a purely aesthetic quality and has no impact on the longevity or integrity of the furniture. In fact, one of our most popular furniture collections, the Eden, is an aluminum frame collection that is painted to look like weathered teak and is a great example of what teak can look like when allowed to form the silver (grey) patina color. Should you want to maintain the beautiful, new look of your teak furniture, please see our Care and Maintenance recommendations below:

Winnie Collection
New teak furniture is typically delivered completely untreated and will experience surfacing of natural oils, especially following the first few periods of rain. This surfacing is unavoidable as the teak wood
needs to adjust to the humidity, temperature, and other atmospheric influences of its new environment. This surfacing of oils can cause staining on cushions if the cushions are allowed to sit on the furniture during this break-in period.  Stains can be removed by cleaning with a laundry oil and stain remover.  For more information, please refer to the Sunbrella Stain Chart. To avoid any staining, we highly recommend cushions be stored separately from the frame whenever they are not in use for these early stages of ownership – especially during rain.

It is never guaranteed how long this initial break-in period will last – we have seen this happen from “a few showers of rain” to “a few months”- so it is best to assume around 2-3 months. Climate is a huge factor contributing to the duration of this period, as well as some of the natural variation among pieces (and even within boards on the same piece). It is always best to allow this normal adaptation to occur for at least a few weeks prior to treating your new teak furniture, as to not lock in the natural oils that are surfacing, which may cause more spotting or an unnatural look.

Ludlow Collection
The Ludlow collection features a teak coffee table, side table, and teak feet accents on the majority of the collection pieces. The teak for this collection is already treated with a product similar to the Instant Grey product from Golden Care teak products. It is meant to give the new teak the aesthetic of having already somewhat weathered to the silver (grey) patina- a classic, vintage look. The break-in period for these teak items is similar to the Winnie collection in that they must also adjust to their new environment, thus normal surfacing of natural oils over the first few months, especially with the first few rain falls, will occur. Because the Ludlow teak is already treated during the manufacturing process, the surfacing of oils can look like the formation of dark spots. This is completely normal and the temporary darker discoloration spots will naturally fade over time, typically within about 8-14 weeks.

Maintaining the natural golden teak color: Teak oil vs. Sealer

Teak oils are known to cause mildew to grow on your set and need to be applied more frequently since they do not provide the UV protection of a sealant. 

We highly recommend protecting teak furniture with a sealer.  Our suggestion is Golden Care Teak Protector, which will prevent graying of the exterior wood for roughly one year.

Sealant can be applied at any time during the aging process.  Once applied, your furniture will hold
the color it has at the time of sealing.  Before using teak sealant, clean any dirt or residue from your furniture and then allow it to dry completely.  Rub sealant onto the wood with a lint-free cloth, applying in the direction of the grain will yield best results. The following steps are suggestions for sealing and caring for your teak:

Winnie Collection Care and Maintenance

1) Golden Care Teak Cleaner: (Optional)

• Apply prior to using Teak Protector or on an as-needed basis

• A solution of white vinegar and water can be used as well- apply using a soft bristle brush to work out any stains or marks, allow to penetrate for a few minutes before rinsing with water

2) Golden Care Teak Protector:
*This is not a clear-coat and should only be used on the Winnie collection, not the Ludlow

• Apply 2x per year, typically at the start of Spring and start of Autumn

• Prevents stains, dirt, mildew, and helps to protect and lock in the color of the wood. *this will diminish with exposure to elements and must be done regularly

• Honey brown application to maintain a golden color.

3) Golden Care Teak Shield: (Optional)

• Designed to protect teak wood against food and drink stains such wine, olive oil, butter, or ketchup while keeping the natural look of the surface (DOES NOT PREVENT WEATHERING/GREYING)

• For best results on teak furniture used outdoors, we highly suggest the application of Golden Care Teak Protector prior to Teak Shield if you would like to maintain the new look of teak furniture.

• Use alone if you would like your teak to weather to a beautiful, flawless silver patina, if so desired.

Ludlow Collection Care and Maintenance

1) Golden Care Teak Cleaner: (Optional)

• Apply prior to Instant Grey or on an as-needed basis

• A solution of white vinegar and water can be used as well- apply using a soft bristle brush to work out any stains or marks, allow to penetrate for a few minutes before rinsing with water

2) Golden Care Instant Grey:

• Apply 1x per year, typically at the start of Spring – after using the cleaner.

• Instant Gray can be used to normalize color variance when allowing teak to patina.

• After two (2) seasons or so, the teak wood should be experiencing a natural patina process. If you are happy with the color after the teak cleaner is applied at the start of the season – then the Instant Gray is no longer needed.

3) Clear Coat Teak Sealer: (Optional)

• Application will maintain the current color of the wood, avoiding further weathering/greying if your desired color has been achieved

• Semco is a very reputable brand for teak care products, but any clear coat teak product may work

• Always test product in small, inconspicuous area first to confirm desired aesthetic is achieved

4) Golden Care Teak Shield:

• Clear application – don’t use the “Teak Protector” product on Ludlow as it is not clear.

• Designed to protect teak wood against food and drink stains such wine, olive oil, butter, or ketchup while keeping the natural look of the surface

• Can be used after Instant Grey or on its own after natural weathering/greying has reached your desired appearance and Instant Grey is no longer needed

Should your furniture weather to a silver (grey) patina, it can be restored to a golden color by sanding with fine grain sandpaper (320 grit). Sand in the direction of the wood grain, and wipe dust from the wood when finished.  This method will also help smooth out ridges that develop, or stains that occur on the surface of the wood.  Be sure to seal the wood again after sanding.

During the weathering process you may notice "checking" or a few hairline cracks that appear in the wood. This is perfectly natural, as wood expands and contracts slightly when left outdoors depending on temperature and humidity. Checking is cosmetic only and in no way affects the structural integrity of the furniture. Checking is not covered by warranty.

Using a hose to clean your adirondack chair should remove most dirt. We recommend using a wet rag and natural spray cleaner for cleaning tougher spots. If dirt is embedded in the texture, we recommend the use of mild soap and water and a gentle-bristle brush.