TeakSeal – Teak Deck Cleaner

Introduction

Fix1DC deck caulk is a high quality, 1-component caulking sealant, offering excellent UV resistance and colour stability. It is also one of the most durable and flexible deck caulking sealants available.

Teakseal Teak Cleaner complements Fix1DC by guaranteeing that the deck and its joints are responsibly maintained. This cleaner will not damage the deck or sealant and ensures that the desired result is achieved, also in the longer term. This info sheet contains important instructions and guidelines for cleaning and maintaining teak decks that are sealed with Fix1DC.

Maintenance Instructions and Guidelines

To ensure the maximum life of your teak deck and caulking, it is important to follow the following maintenance instructions and guidelines:

• Wash your teak deck every week with clean salt water. After washing the teak deck with salt water, the deck can be washed with fresh water to prevent contamination because of the salt. Salt water in combination with UV light from the sun is a natural bleaching agent. Washing the deck with salt water also deposits a small amount of salt onto it that will absorb moisture from the air and help to stop the wood from drying out. Moreover, salt water reduces mildew, mould and algae growth. Fresh water is better than no water, but salt water is certainly preferred.
• Never scrub your deck with a hard bristle (or other hard) brush. You will damage the wood and sealant.
• Never wash your deck with a high-pressure cleaner.
• Do not use (strong) alkalis, such as ammonia, bleach, chlorine, caustic soda or sodium hydroxide.
• Do not use (strong) acids, such as oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid or citric acid.
• Do not use natural solvents such as lemon- or pinene-based cleaners. Although natural, these solvents have a very aggressive effect on teak and sealant.
• Do not use household detergents or other neutral cleaners such as lemon- or pinene-based cleaners, ammonia, bleach, green soap or the like. They may damage your deck and your sealant.
• Do not use 2-component cleaners and or brighteners of any kind. The majority of these are aggressive chemicals that will damage your deck and the sealant.
• Do not use oils or grease on your teak deck. This can damage the sealant.

You may on occasion clean your teak deck, as described below.

Instructions for Cleaning

Teakseal Teak Cleaner has been tested extensively in combination with Fix1DC. Correctly applied, this cleaning agent has no negative effect on the sealant. However, the product contains active chemicals that, if used undiluted and incorrectly, might cause damage.

Therefore please follow the instructions below:

• Ensure that your deck is saturated with (salt) water before applying the diluted cleaner.
• Dilute the cleaner with water before use. If the deck is very dirty, Teakseal Teak Cleaner can be diluted 1:5 with water (1 part cleaner and 5 parts water). For regular cleaning the cleaner should be diluted 1:10 (1 part cleaner and 10 parts water).
• We recommend that you dilute the cleaner in a plant sprayer (as shown in the picture below) and then spray it onto the deck. The advantage of using a plant sprayer is that it greatly reduces the quantity of cleaner you need when compared to working with a bucket.

Clean with a light duty deck scourer                Remove the cleaner with (salt) water

• Because Teakseal Teak Cleaner is a very powerful cleaning agent, it will not be necessary to use strong abrasive force to clean your deck; a light duty deck scourer is sufficient. This is also one of the major features of the cleaner, because the use of soft brushes or brooms will significantly extend the life of your deck and the sealant.
• Leave Teakseal Teak Cleaner on the deck for 10 to 15 minutes (no more) and ensure that the cleaner does not dry on the deck. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove the cleaner very thoroughly with (salt) water until no residues are left on or in the wood.
• Five litres of cleaner should be sufficient to clean 140 m2 of deck.

Cleaning the teak deck after other cleaning materials have been used

Make a habit of cleaning the deck with Teakseal Teak Cleaner immediately after other cleaning agents have been used to clean other parts of the boat, for example cabin roofs. This is because other cleaning agents could have been spilled on the deck that could have a negative effect on the teak and the sealants. Always ensure that other cleaning agents are thoroughly rinsed off as some of them can leave a film on your deck that can make the sealant(s) feel sticky. Working top down so that the deck is always cleaned last and all other spilled cleaning agents are thoroughly washed off the deck.

Note: All technical data stated in this info sheet are based on laboratory tests. Actual measured data may vary due to circumstances beyond our control. If other (unsuitable) cleaning materials or chemicals have been used on your deck, we recommend that you thoroughly wash it with fresh salt water and then immediately use Teakseal Teak Cleaner. Teakseal Teak Cleaner will help to remove unwanted chemicals from your deck.

Note: Teakseal Teak Cleaner can etch glass if not washed off quickly, therefore, please wash off any cleaner that has been spilt on glass immediately.

Other cleaning materials are available for cleaning your deck, but Fixtech cannot recommend their use because it cannot control and check all of the product formulations of other companies. These formulations could change, the quality could differ, etc. Therefore we strongly recommend that you follow the instructions in this info sheet and to use salt water and or Teakseal Teak Cleaner to clean your deck.

References

Safety Data Sheet Teakseal Teak Cleaner, Fix1DC
Product Data Sheet Teakseal Teak Cleaner, Fix1DC