Polishing, Waxing the Garage Door Using Teak Oil - Only After Cleaning Door

When I was using teak oil on my car and on my trailer a few months ago, I realized my garage door was a horrible mess and wanted to see if I put the teak oil on it, if it would take off the grime and oxidation like it did so well on the trailer. It DIDN'T take it off. 

If you are going to wax or teak oil your garage door, or anything else for that matter, do a test spot. If it is only dirty with oxidation, it will probably clean up and polish fine with just teak oil. If the test area doesn't come clean, make sure you clean it BEFORE using the teak oil!

To apply this to a clean door, just use a can or bottle of pure Teak Oil from Walmart or another hardware type store. Walmart had a good size can for $10. I would have had enough left over from doing my trailer and half of my car but it dried out as I didn't put a plastic cover over it before I put the lid on. There was build up on the can from all the use. 

So, when you use the can, make sure that you put a plastic baggie or saran wrap over the top before putting the lid back on. I wish they would just make a screw on lid but on the can I purchased, they don't. 

The oil covers a huge area. I did my 21 foot trailer at least two times around and the fiberglass about five times. I did the one side of my car and never got to the other but the drivers side looks great! I would have probably had enough to do my two car garage door at least once if not twice if it hadn't dried up. 
 
To apply it, I have lots of cotton rags due to my making lots of t-shirt quilts, check a few of them out at these links below. 

Using caps or hats on t-shirt quilts.

T-shirt quilt Princess 1 part 1. 

T-shirt quilt Princess 1 part 2. 

T-shirt quilt Princess 2  A and B

I have the rags and tried using them on the trailer but they left little bits of thread on the sticky Teak oil and then they would dry in the oil as it hardened. 

I found that a strong paper towel was the best option. One that is a bit thicker holds the oil better and doesn't shred while spreading it if you have to rub harder to get off some of the oxidation. Just pour some of the Teak oil onto the paper towel and wipe it on. When the cloth is dirty, get a new one. I find that if I just fold it into a square and then fold it over the other way once one section is dirty, it uses less oil as the other layers of the towel are already saturated with the oil but aren't dirty so I just use the paper towel until it is really dirty.
Above is the video of how I did the trailer and you can clearly see how much better the trailer looks with the Teak oil on it. I think it shows up better as the colors accent it. The garage door looks WONDERFUL now and as soon as I did that, I realized that the picture window to the side of the garage that has a bit of vinyl siding around it is FILTHY! I now need to use the same techniques on it and will have to show you how that works out. I haven't tried teak oil on vinyl before. Wood, fiberglass, metal and painted items, I have tried and they are great. Vinyl will be a new one but it is in need of cleaning desperately. I can't wait to have all the outside household chores done. It seems like I get one off the list and add two. The backyard play area is needing some attention soon. . . . I'll add it to the "list." :-)

Garage Door Upadate Three Years Later - Still Shiny and Great

I have gotten a few requests over the years from people to know how my garage door held up with the Teak oil on it. There are some that also ask how my trailer did with the teak oil coating I put on it.

Here is the original post where I show using the teak on my garage door.

Three years ago now, I had a cool experience where a man shared with me how I should use teak oil on my trailer as I was trying to figure out how to wax it.

There are links on that post to all the original videos on how I cleaned the door which was covered with minerals from the sprinklers hitting it for about 25 years. It took us lots of time to get all the minerals off the door, but once we did, the teak oil was much quicker than wax.

I also have links on that post to how I used the mineral spirits to clean the trailer on the dirty spots and used the Teak Oil on the trailer. I would show pictures but we haven't used the trailer as I didn't go Easter camping this year so it is in storage off site so pictures wouldn't be the easiest to get but we are headed camping to the lake this summer so I will try to get some update pictures if I remember then.

When I was coming home tonight, I was at a concert and had my camera with me and when I pulled in, I thought it was wonderful that the garage was still shiny after so much time. I thought I would make a short video showing that it was still shiny after three years. I couldn't remember actually how many years so I had to come in and look up the post but the trailer was about this time three years back so yahoo for it looking so good after three years of no attention.

I probably should give it a good wash with a hose and sponge and put on a second coat just to keep it looking good but it isn't like there is oxidation and color change but just dust from the dirt lot that is next to my home and we have LOTS of wind so there is dirt in the door but I bet just using the hose would take the majority of it off.


I have a window next to the garage that has siding surrounding it and I have had it on my list for years to get the minerals off that siding and teak oil it but I still haven't gotten to it. Not that I have been busy or anything. ;-)

I am very happy about the door and how it still looks and feel like all the work getting the minerals off was worth it and the teak oil is seriously one of my favorite "home" items as it works on so many things!

I am so grateful for the man that took the time to share his wisdom with me about boats and how to use teak oil on fiberglass, wood, and metal as needed! What a blessing to me and others that advice has been. Have a BLESSED Day!

Almost Five Years Ago, I teak Oiled My Trailer Instead of Waxing - Good Fast Option

Five Years ago this November, I spent lots of time working on my trailer. I put all new butylene tape in around windows and vents as well as replacing vent covers and teak oiled the entire trailer. 

I shared that there was a man that shared with me about how I should use teak oil on my trailer and fiberglass while I was shopping at a local store. I was on the phone and he came up to me asking what I was going to "buff" as I was looking at a buffer wondering if it would work on the trailer as the rub on rub off waxing thing was an arm buster. 

I am SO GRATEFUL for that man interrupting my call to share with me about the wonderful use of Teak oil! It has been used so many times in my life from my bar-b-cue, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, garage door, aluminum siding and windows and my trailer. It is such an amazing product that and it is so inexpensive to purchase. For my entire trailer, it was less than one can which is about $10 at Walmart. 

Several people over time on my blog or channels have asked me to do an update on the trailer sides and garage door to show they are still in good condition. I can't tell you how much easier it has been this time to apply the teak oil to the trailer. The teak oil sealed the sides and there is some oxidation but there aren't the many, many dirt lines and sticky dirt stuck on it as there was last time. 

If you look at this blog post from when I did it the first time, you can clearly see how dirty and flat the exterior of the trailer was. I used mineral spirits to clean the trailer sticky or really dirty spots and I haven't had to use mineral spirits once to clean anything this time other than where I stuck duct tape on the door a month back before I fixed it. 

The sides were still quite shiny even if there was a little grit or dirt, it wiped right off with the Teak oil. The only place I cleaned before putting the teak oil on was under the front window cover as there was dirt trapped inside there and I didn't want to seal any of that in so I washed that area. 

I am not technically done putting the teak oil on yet as I  finished one side with Princess last week and I did the back and most of the other side today. I did purchase some caulk for the door window which I did not get done today but hope to get to that tomorrow so I can then finish up the door with teak oil.  

From there, I just have the front around the window cover to do. I am super excited to get that done and am thinking about doing another coat on the garage door while I have Princess Five to help me work on it. It will need a good rinse before coating it but nothing like what we had to do five years ago to get the sprinkler minerals off it. 

It will be nice getting the trailer put away for the winter. I found a spot to store it and will be glad to finish up that project. It seems like there is always another project looming.... Pruning time is upon us and at least Princess Five and I got all the apples off our tree dried for the season in a week or two this year. I have a list on the kitchen counter of many of the things I wanted to get done while Princess Five was home and I hate to share that I have not gotten much off that list. We visit and play games so much of the time but we have also done much service so I am glad that she is having those opportunities. I personally haven't been feeling the best that last week or two with another "bug bite" type infection on my leg that burns and oozes. I thought it was a mosquito bite I got while helping my sister move the other night but last night I got about 2 hours sleep due to the pain and burning of it. I have treated it with the iodine and diatomaceous earth and it seems to be calming down but between that and a cold of some kind, I didn't have the best weekend. 

Yea for hopefully finishing up the trailer tomorrow! Have a Blessed Day! 

Sprucing Up the Old Grill By Using TEAK OIL - I Should Have Known

Over the years, I have shared about using Teak Oil for many things. 

I shared in one post near the beginning that a homeless looking man came up to me while I was on the phone at a second hand store looking at a buffer. He interrupted my call to ask what I was going to "buff" and I told him I needed to wax a trailer. 

He told me about TEAK OIL saying he had a boat and used teak oil on it for years. I have given gratitude for that many MANY times in my life as it has worked on SO many things.... 

I was cleaning up the back yard and cleaning out some things when I had the thought that the Grill was a metal and I have used the teak oil on all sorts of metal and it has worked SO well on them that I thought I should try it on the cast iron grill as it was super dirty and oxidized looking. 

I pulled out the teak oil and started wiping away and WOW the results were amazing! I took a video towards the beginning and then wen all out using it on the complete outside of the grill and it worked like a charm! 

I just did one coat that day and used the grill over the weekend and then took a picture today so it has been about 2 weeks since I polished it up but it still looks fairly good and I think I am going to put another coat on it in the next few weeks when my life calms down a bit. 

I also used a little olive oil brushed on to keep the rust down on the grill racks and I used the "totally awesome Grill Cleaner" from the dollar store on the inside of the grill and then use a hose to spray out the gunk that builds up on the inside. I use the metal brush to scrape off the racks and the burn off all the chemicals before cooking on it. It is fast and easy.

I wish I had thought of using Teak Oil on it sooner frankly, as it looks SO much better.... So, once again I am giving gratitude for the homeless looking man that had the courage to interrupt a phone call and share that gem of advice with me. I think I will put a few links to the other times I have used teak oil on things. 

Teak Oil on the trailer to take off oxidation and dirt and shine it up.
Teak Oil on the garage door to shine it up.
Teak Oil on the vinyl siding window frames
Teak Oil on my kitchen and cupboard cabinets
Teak Oil on knife handles.


As you can see by the list of links above, I have used Teak oil MANY time in my life and it makes things look so good if you take the time to view the links and pictures.... 

This bottom picture is the one from today after a week or two. I think doing another coat or two will have it staying shiny and looking good all season.

Have a Blessed and Shiny Day! 

Using Teak Oil To Freshen Up a Batik Box

I found this really cool wooden box at a second hand store recently. I could see it was sun faded but thought maybe using the teak oil on it may bring up the color again. 

I made a video showing what using teak oil on the faded wood would do for it! You can see the huge difference when I put teak oil on half of the mask.

In this video I share how to refresh and shine up old wooden items. I have used this method to shine up my garage door, the outside of my trailer, the fiberglass cover and door on my trailer, wooden knife handles, aluminum siding on my home, aluminum windows, a grill, wooden boxes, toys, bathroom cabinets, and kitchen cupboards. I am sure I am forgetting some things as well.

This shines and protects whatever you put it on. It will even clean oxidation and surface dust off items. If you are going to use it on something that is really dirty or oily, you can clean it first. Mineral spirits will clean metal fairly well.

Here is a link to me using it on the barbecue grill.

Here is a link to me using it on the garage door.  

Here is a link to me using it on the trailer siding, easier than waxing. 

Here is a link to me using it on the kitchen cabinets.  

Here is a link to me using on aluminum siding.  

Here is a link to me using teak on my wooden knife handles. 

Here is a link to me using teak oil on my swamp cooler. 

Here is a link where I use it on a larger jewelry box.  

I am so thankful for the older gentleman that interrupted my phone call asking what I was going to be waxing and told me about Teak Oil. As you can see, I have used it so often that I have gone through 4 or more containers of teak oil. 

It is such a versatile product and I am grateful to have it in my life. Have a blessed day!

Washing the Garage Door - Removing Mineral deposits from Sprinklers

It took me over a month to get this project done with all the other things we had going on but I am VERY happy to say, we finished the garage door!!!!

I have wanted to wash and polish the garage door for about a year. I had to finish working on the trailer and then with graduation, camp, car issues etc, we just never got back to finishing it even thought we started washing it over a month ago. In reality, it was probably at least two months ago. 


I can say that I am quite the expert now at knowing what will and won't take off lime, calcium and mineral deposits on your garage and what will take the paint off your door! 

You can clearly see in the pictures just how disgusting the garage door had gotten. From a few feet away, it didn't look so bad because the entire things was red from the red dirt we have in our area. When the hinged sections of the door open and close, the grease would collect red dirt and you can see the red lines of dirt on each hinge line across the door. 
 
You can also see, that the bottom corners of the doors have sprinkler mineral buildup on them. I fixed the sprinklers when we purchased the house so they don't hit the house anywhere so we don't have flooding or lime buildup on the brick or windows anymore unless the wind is blowing really hard when they are on.
 
However, I never took the time to remove the build up that was on the door when we bought it so over the years, the wind, rain etc just turned the build up that was on it red. 

I tried all of the products shown above as well as "Lime Away", "CLR" and a few others. My favorite by far was the "Tub and Tile" by melaleuka company but it is the least available as you can't buy it at any local stores but have to get it online or through a distributor. 


You can see us trying those products after we tried the others to see if any of them worked better than what we had. 

You can see that in the top four or five pictures, we sprayed each bottle behind where it is setting and you can see how some started removing it and dripping and others did nothing. Then, you can see in the next one how I scrubbed the areas and then see how much came off with the solutions and scrubbing. 

I actually really liked the "Totally Awesome Cleaner" brand of Orange cleaner and their version of the Calcuim, lime and mineral remover. 


I have always liked "Totally Awesome Cleaner" in the house on toys, kitchen and  laundry as if "Zout" doesn't get it out on the laundry or carpet, the "Totally Awesome Cleaner" usually does. Sometimes it takes both but it is a staple in my cleaning arsenal.
 

I took a video and posted it on youtube about what we tried to clean the garage and what worked best and will have it on here. Tomorrow, I am posting about polishing the garage door with Teak oil just like we did on the trailer. 
 
I will tell you not to use a stiff brush or a "Mr. Clean" eraser sponge on the painted door or other painted metal surfaces as it took off some paint. 

Princess Five was helping me and I didn't notice until too late that it was taking off the paint in spots so along the hinges, there are some areas missing paint in spots. You can see that in the picture how it took off the paint. I used a back brush from the shower to wash the door and scrub as it is a soft brush and it gave me reach to wash the top and I didn't have to stand on a chair so I liked that it has a long handle.
 
You can clearly see in the top pictures and here that the sprays made a huge difference in taking off the red dirt. 

In all, I think we scrubbed the garage door three times spraying cleaner on it as the dirt only came off where the spray hit and that wasn't always every spot so each time, we got a bit more of the dirt off. 
 
We did have an issues with the spray taking off the oxidation which is the color of the door and then when I would scrub it, it would drip onto the cement under the door as you can see here. I just sprayed the paint with the orange cleaner and used the brush to scrub the paint drips off the cement so it wouldn't dry that way. 


You can see it clearly worked. Added bonus was that the ants that seem to like the seam in-between the garage door and the driveway, HATED the cleaning solution and the orange oil I guess because the next day, they were moving out! Check back tomorrow for how we polished the door! 

Teak Oil on Bathroom and Kitchen Cupboards and Cabinets - Easy Makeover

My home is over 35 years old. The cabinets in the kitchen and the medicine cabinets in the bathrooms are all of the golden oak solid wood variety that was popular then. 

I know the trend is to paint kitchen cabinets white, grey, or black presently for the sleek look but I LOVE natural wood. I have it on the banister for the stairs and much of my own furniture is from the old era of oak so I don't want to paint over wood. 

I hate how dirty my friends cabinets get where there is lots of use when they have painted them white. They also get dinged and you have to touch them up etc. 

I just wash the fronts from time to time when they get dirty and I haven't had any maintenance for years.

There were a few scratches on the sides which aren't really oak but the oak laminate siding. However, under the sink where I wash regularly due to cutting lots of fruits over the sink and it gets sticky etc, my frequent washing has taken some of the varnish off and they were looking quite worn. 

Also, in my bathroom where I wash the mirrors several times weekly, the varnish had also worn off. I wondered what I could do to update my cupboards without having to sand and refinish them and remembered that I used to use tung oil back years ago before moving into this house on the cupboards in my apartments. 

I sent Princess Four to the store to purchase me some Tung Oil as I was moving a bunk bed and it had tons of scratches on it. I remembered the Tung oil and figured it would work to get the scratches polished up better than the "Old English" light furniture polish would. 

Princess Four called from the store and told me that the Tung Oil was more than twice the Teak Oil and so I figured I would try the Teak Oil on the bed as I had such wonderful results on the garage door (click here for that post) and on my trailer a few years back. (click here for that post)

I used it on the bed and it worked wonders covering the scratches of many children's abuse. It was wonderful. However, it does get sticky if left on over where the varnish was still intact. So, using a soft cotton cloth, pour some teak oil on the cloth and wipe on the entire surface. Let it dry for about ten minutes and then take a dry cotton cloth and wipe it off so that it dries more quickly. 
 
Where I left it on over the old varnish took two days drying time and in areas that I put lots of it, it took even longer so don't forget to wipe away the excess after ten minutes. I would do a section, go back to the first area, then go to a new area, then go back to the second area and wipe the excess away etc.

MAKE SURE YOU ONLY DO IT IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA. I had my swamp cooler on vent and all my bathroom and kitchen vents going full for two days and at times, I can still smell it. I would suggest doing it before you leave on vacation so that it has plenty of time to dry before you come back and the smell will be dissipated. 

Hopefully you can clearly see in the many before and after pictures in this post how well it covered up the scratches and dings. I also made a video you can see the final product. I think they look like new and after thirty plus years and a household of 9 when we bought it and our 7 for years, they have turned out quite nice I think! 

Oh, in the one beneath the sink, I had started the tops but stopped so you could see how well the top looked verses the fronts and center between them look. Then, the picture below is the entire thing finished. 

I did the same thing with the last picture. It is one of the bathroom medicine chests where the varnish had worn off. You can see how it shines it up immediately in that picture.

There are two last warnings. In my bathroom when the kids were little, they wouldn't use the fan / vent because it made them cold so they would steam up the bathroom and it wore away the varnish on the grain on the upper cabinets. Then in the basement, near the whirlpool spa tub, the wood just above it also wore through the varnish on the grain so when I used the Teak Oil, it created a darker grain there due to mildew in the crevices so if you have a spot like that in your bathroom, I would do a light sand there before using the Teak Oil. 

The last of the two warnings is the make SURE that you do not store the container opened or with a cloth. DO NOT STORE THE CLOTH!!!! Once you are finished with it. I put it in an old sour cream container in water and take it to the outside garbage can. I personally know someone who burned down their business by leaving rags soaked in stain and varnish on the work tables over night and it started the building on fire destroying their business and another! 
 
ALWAYS soak the used towel in water and dispose of it outside not near the house!!!! CLOSE the container tightly so the fumes don't ignite!!!! It isn't worth a few pennies for someone's life or your home to be destroyed!