Comments on: How to Clean Terra Cotta Pots http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/ Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Nancy http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-81762 Nancy Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:52:51 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-81762 I just used the peroxide tip from Jude on my large terracotta pot to remove green (moldy looking) grime. With a little elbow grease (not really much at all) and a scrub brush, my pot is looking pretty good. :) Thanks for the tip! I just used the peroxide tip from Jude on my large terracotta pot to remove green (moldy looking) grime. With a little elbow grease (not really much at all) and a scrub brush, my pot is looking pretty good. :) Thanks for the tip!

]]> By: Patsy http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-81158 Patsy Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:47:33 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-81158 I just received a large terracotta pot and my question is, do I season the pot with oil before I plant it? I just received a large terracotta pot and my question is, do I season the pot with oil before I plant it?

]]> By: Debbie http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-57559 Debbie Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:20:39 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-57559 Hi Margie, Have you found a way to remove the paint from your pots? I am trying to work on the same thing. I have a very large terracotta pot that I painted last year. It unfortunately sat at the end of my garage all winter. It would snow and melt and the water would get into the garage and get on the pot. I had sealed the pot with urethane, but it bubbles and started to peel. I've removed a lot, but I can't figure out how to remove the rest. Hi Margie,

Have you found a way to remove the paint from your pots? I am trying to work on the same thing. I have a very large terracotta pot that I painted last year. It unfortunately sat at the end of my garage all winter. It would snow and melt and the water would get into the garage and get on the pot. I had sealed the pot with urethane, but it bubbles and started to peel. I’ve removed a lot, but I can’t figure out how to remove the rest.

]]> By: Diana http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-37983 Diana Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:17:05 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-37983 To get rid of white mineral stains, first scrape away the loose soil and rinse out any remaining dirt. Then fill a bucket with warm water deep enough to immerse the pot and add enough vinegar to make a 4:1 solution (1 cup per quart). Soak the pot in the solution for at least 1/2 hour, longer if a crust has formed. Then wipe or scrub away any remaining crust. If the pot is very crusty, you can repeat the treatment with a fresh solution. Be sure to rinse the pot thoroughly afterward, because some plants don't tolerate acid. Note: Vinegar cleans but doesn't sanitize. To get rid of white mineral stains, first scrape away the loose soil and rinse out any remaining dirt. Then fill a bucket with warm water deep enough to immerse the pot and add enough vinegar to make a 4:1 solution (1 cup per quart). Soak the pot in the solution for at least 1/2 hour, longer if a crust has formed. Then wipe or scrub away any remaining crust. If the pot is very crusty, you can repeat the treatment with a fresh solution. Be sure to rinse the pot thoroughly afterward, because some plants don’t tolerate acid. Note: Vinegar cleans but doesn’t sanitize.

]]> By: Jude http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-29894 Jude Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:24:26 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-29894 Why not use a suitable stain for your terra cotta pots? Since clay is very porous, it absorbs colours well. You mention wall art so I assume they're not meant for plants, although there are safe pigments meant for clay pots that don't harm plants. If yours are only decorative, choosing a wood stain in the closest colour to match the original colour would work. I can't guarantee it wouldn't have to be done every year but still, once yearly isn't bad to keep it looking the way you'd like. Experiment on the back of the pieces first to see how it dark it gets. Why not use a suitable stain for your terra cotta pots? Since clay is very porous, it absorbs colours well. You mention wall art so I assume they’re not meant for plants, although there are safe pigments meant for clay pots that don’t harm plants. If yours are only decorative, choosing a wood stain in the closest colour to match the original colour would work. I can’t guarantee it wouldn’t have to be done every year but still, once yearly isn’t bad to keep it looking the way you’d like. Experiment on the back of the pieces first to see how it dark it gets.

]]> By: Joan http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-29872 Joan Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:42:24 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-29872 Several terracotta pieces hanging on our courtyard wall have either faded or look as though they had a light white wash applied. We live in GA, so realize the sun probably permanently bleached a couple of pieces. We thought the white might be lime so I just tried lime-away and nothing changed. Any suggestions? Thanks, Joan Several terracotta pieces hanging on our courtyard wall have either faded or look as though they had a light white wash applied. We live in GA, so realize the sun probably permanently bleached a couple of pieces. We thought the white might be lime so I just tried lime-away and nothing changed. Any suggestions? Thanks, Joan

]]> By: Jude http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-terra-cotta-pots/#comment-27767 Jude Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:07:47 +0000 http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/?p=1643#comment-27767 Rather than bleach, heat or vinegar, hydrogen peroxide (3% strength sold in drug stores & even cheaper in dollar stores) is one of the best & safest disinfectants there is. Basically, it oxidizes or breaks down any fungi or bacteria left behind. It's also great for removing stains from most things (carpets, fabrics, tea or coffee cups) but test on coloured fabrics first for color-fastness. The 3% strength isn't very strong & rarely removes color from rugs or fabrics unless the dyes are cheap. Peroxide is safe too (except to ingest) as it's simply water (H2O) with an extra oxygen atoms tacked on to become H2O2. Rather than bleach, heat or vinegar, hydrogen peroxide (3% strength sold in drug stores & even cheaper in dollar stores) is one of the best & safest disinfectants there is. Basically, it oxidizes or breaks down any fungi or bacteria left behind. It’s also great for removing stains from most things (carpets, fabrics, tea or coffee cups) but test on coloured fabrics first for color-fastness. The 3% strength isn’t very strong & rarely removes color from rugs or fabrics unless the dyes are cheap. Peroxide is safe too (except to ingest) as it’s simply water (H2O) with an extra oxygen atoms tacked on to become H2O2.

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