One of the floors that are most abundant in terraces, patios or balconies are those made of terracotta. This type of flooring, which is widely used outdoors, has a rough, rustic and irregular look that gives spaces great natural beauty. But it has one problem, and that is that it is a very porous material. This means that unless it is treated with waxes or paints that make it waterproof, stains adhere to the floor and are usually difficult to remove as they penetrate the pores of the tile. That said, I guess what you are interested in is how to clean stains from terracotta flooring and how to protect it.
Tile floor, how to get it perfect and clean all the time
If we do not protect a terracotta floor, in a short time we will have stains that are impossible to remove. In addition, the pores will absorb dirt and thus make daily maintenance difficult by not absorbing cleaning products. For proper protection, it is necessary to waterproof the floor. For this there is porous ceramic wax that is easy to apply. You can also apply a stone paint that works very well in such cases.
The treatment requires 3 to 4 passes, between which 24 hours must elapse. The product is very easy to apply. The only thing we need to take into consideration is that there should be no moisture under the tiles. This will depend on the area you are in and the month. It is not the same to do it in February as it is in June. In cold and humid environments, you will need to wait 6 weeks from laying the flooring to treatment. In warm places, on the other hand, 3 weeks is enough.
Terracotta flooring, this is how you remove all the dirt from joints and tiles
This treatment is the first and therefore it is important to perform it correctly. We need to prepare the ground to facilitate its subsequent maintenance. Since this is a first treatment, it is likely that we will have to resort to a professional using special rotary machines with mechanical brushes. This will polish the first layer and remove any damage that may have occurred during the work. Once polished, the floor is vacuumed thoroughly to remove dust and other debris. To finish, ceramic oils or waxes are usually applied to seal the pores.
Clean terracotta floors: use these natural ingredients!
We do not have to do deep cleaning every day to maintain this type of flooring. Fortunately, they are very durable and can be easily cleaned every day. How? It depends on whether the floor is outside or inside.
Interior:
- Vacuum well to remove residual dirt.
- Scrub the floor with a mixture of vinegar, lemon juice and warm water.
- Allow to dry.
On the outside, it is normal for mold or lime stains to appear. You can clean it in the following ways:
- With a pressurized water gun (always adjusting the pressure).
- With products such as baking soda, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide dissolved in warm water.
- If the mold and dirt is very encrusted, you can use water and bleach with the help of a brush with metal bristles. Then rinse with water.
Terracotta floor, how often should it be cleaned and washed!
There is no set time to maintain your floor. Every home is a world and will depend on the environments it is exposed to. A terracotta floor in a kitchen will be more prone to staining than a bedroom floor.
Daily cleaning is recommended just as any other type of material receives. Although in the case of fired clay, if any kind of product falls on the floor, it is advisable to remove it as soon as possible to prevent its absorption. If this happens, it will be more complicated to clean it later. In the case of exteriors, it is advisable to clean it every day. We should not allow mold and moss to form on the tiles. However, applying certain products too frequently can wear away the glaze or tile joints. To prevent this from happening, the best thing to do is to clean it daily with warm water. When we verify that the layer that waterproofed the floor against porosity has worn off, we need to apply wax or special oil for porous floors.
