If you don't want white staining on terracotta pots, try these 3 very easy cleaning methods
White stains on terracotta vases are completely normal, and indeed, there are those who like to see these "blooms" on the porous material. There is nothing wrong, however, if you prefer to eliminate them from terracotta items (like flowerpots).
The stains and white spots are a consequence of the terracotta's properties: terracotta is a porous material that allows the soil to breath and also absorbs excess humidity from the soil.
White spots/staining can be caused by several factors:
- Hard water deposits: the salts and minerals contained in hard water - especially water - remain on the surface of the terracotta when the water evaporates, just like what happens with the limestone that builds up in the home.
- Fertilizer residue: Fertilizers also contain mineral salts, and the porous nature of terracotta also allows them to escape and remain on the surface when the liquid evaporates.
What if I want to keep the stains?
As we said, there are those who prefer their terracotta pieces to be a bit stained in this way. But be careful: when the stains are very prominent, it is likely that there are excessive mineral deposits inside the pot, and this can cause damage to the plant's roots. In this case, you need to gently extract the plant, empty the pot and clean the inside, while leaving the stains on the outside (if this is your preference).
How to eliminate the staining
You can try different methods:
- White vinegar: dilute a little in a lot of water (use 50 ml of vinegar for each liter of water). Then fill a basin (or a bucket) with this mixture, and immerse the vessel to be cleaned in it for half an hour. Then scrub the inside and outside, concentrating on where the stains are, rinse off and the vase will be as good as new again.
- Bleach: use the same proportions of bleach and water and with the above-described vinegar method, and you can either immerse the vase in the mix or simply rub the solution on the parts to be cleaned with a sponge. Rinse off and voila!
- Lemon juice: if the stains lighter, you can also try squeezing a lemon into a small bowl, dilute it with water in equal amounts and then rub it all over the stains.
These are very simple and fast methods. Do you have a favorite?
