Caring for Teak Cabinetry in Tropical Humidity

Teak carries a high natural oil content, which is why it has been used on boats and in Thai houses for centuries. That oil slows moisture absorption, so teak swells and shrinks less than most timbers through the wet and dry seasons.

A barely damp cloth and a dry one behind it is the whole routine. Avoid anything containing ammonia, bleach or solvent, which strips the oils you want to keep, and never let water stand on a horizontal teak surface.

Oiled teak benefits from a light re-oil roughly once a year, more often near the hob where heat and cleaning are heaviest. Lacquered teak does not need oiling at all, and oiling it will simply leave a sticky film.

Strong Thai sunlight will fade exposed teak unevenly over a few years. Blinds or a UV film on west-facing glass keep the tone consistent, and expansion gaps designed into the cabinetry absorb the seasonal movement that remains.