Terracotta Cleaning After Repair
Terracotta tile is a facing detail of layers of baked clay. We can see it as a beautiful finish with various shades on the walls and floor of interior spaces and less often on exterior facades, terraces, restaurant gardens, decorative items and other furniture elements.
The affordable price and the beauty of terracotta make it a preferred cladding material in many interior spaces. The glaze is placed outdoors, as water absorption and subsequent freezing can crack the tile.
You know that cleaning glazed tiles is easy and is done in a way familiar to every housewife – a vacuum cleaner for dry waste and washing with a damp mop. However, what are the features of proper cleaning of terracotta after repair?
Terracotta tiles and cleaning equipment
The repair works, and especially the major repairs, leave deep traces. Paint, glue, cement, lime, and other construction debris fall and stick firmly to exposed areas.
A terracotta tile is baked at a lower temperature, so it is always more fragile and light. Its texture is porous and highly water-absorbing. Matte coatings are less resistant to scratches and peeling.
Transparent or coloured, the glaze effectively emphasises the nuances and patterns of the tiles. Coloured glazes seriously change the reddish-brown shades. Colouring is a product of minerals and metals such as copper, cobalt, zinc, gold and silver. Some types of terracotta are unglazed, but the glaze gives this cladding a more beautiful and durable look.
The glaze prevents the absorption of liquids in the clay mass and the stains they cause. However, it is not particularly resistant to physical shock. Driving heavy machinery or heavier objects often breaks the glass-ceramic surface. Not only them but also the stronger pressure during cleaning damages the surface, and when professional construction mixtures stick firmly to such material, their removal is a complex and time-consuming process.
Dry and wet machine cleaning
Manual washing with a mop and detergent is only sometimes enough to clean construction and installation mixtures. Alkaline detergent or strong adhesive thinner can dissolve all contaminants. However, rubbing it with a soft brush is not always enough to remove dried glue, paints and grouts that stick exceptionally tightly.
Machining facilitates and speeds up the process, especially using a multifunctional cleaning system. The washing vacuum cleaner invented in the middle of the last century became a revolutionary marvel of cleaning technology. The attachments, powered by a powerful brushless motor, are numerous and adapted to the specifics of each type of flooring in your home and garden.
The multifunctional vacuum cleaner is a driving force that cleans hard floors, upholstery, carpets, wallpaper, ceilings, bed linen, household appliances, and even dust from your flowers. This vacuum cleaner is ideal for cleaning an apartment, villa, office, restaurant or shop without other washing equipment. The two-filter construction “scans” the dirty dust particles in the air and removes them completely.
The result is a clean and fresh fragrant space, which has a highly beneficial effect on health. Medical research proves that the revolutionary cleansing system is an effective way to combat respiratory problems and asthma. How to deal with heavily stained terracotta after repair?
Soft camel hair brush and polish
Dry vacuuming works through attachments with a camel fibre brush and a rotating arm that easily cleans all hard-to-reach corners. Camel’s hair is coarse, durable and hollow inside. This structure determines the hygroscopicity of the material – it quickly “crushes” all dried building materials and absorbs large and small dust particles while absorbing moisture from the pavement.
The washing attachment consists of two nozzles – a delicate sponge and a brush constructed with a silicone pen. Strong alkaline solutions poured into the water tank are applied to the pavements under very high pressure.
In combination with the special cleaning ingredients, the powerful jet penetrates deep into the pores of the terracotta tiles. Dissolution and dilution of adhesive materials is a fact very soon. They are completely removed only after two or three procedures with the sweeping water. Considering its porous structure, when processed with a powerful machine, terracotta is much easier to clean than other floor coverings.
The vacuum cleaner removes all dried dust particles and building materials from the joints, which we often underestimate during routine cleaning. Washing with a multifunctional vacuum cleaner is a relatively modern way of cleaning, but it has proven its advantages. Apart from brilliant purity, one of them is the minimal effort in a procedure you can perform as a relaxing exercise with your favourite music.
The cleaners seal the terracotta surface after cleaning with a special wax with polymer agents using a disk machine, creating a thin but dense protective film with antistatic properties, which insulates the clay boards from scratches and water penetration, dust and stains.
Specifics of cleaning terracotta flooring
Terracotta is a material that is softer than granite. It has excellent absorbency.
You must be careful not to damage the surface of the tiles. The layer that covers it is separated from the base. It can be damaged, and any scratch is visible.
That is why we recommend machine floor cleaning, which protects the surface of the granite tiles and, at the same time, cleans thoroughly. Professional cleaning with machines also removes small particles in the joints. If the terracotta tiles are embossed, the machines wash the relief well.
When cleaning, professionals first use brushes to remove accumulations in the joints and the tiles’ relief. Then two more cleaning stages with a machine are performed, and the whole flooring is dried, also by machine. That removes both the dirt and the water used for cleaning.
After drying, the cleaners apply a polishing agent. It polishes the surface and repels contaminants. To maintain the cleanliness of terracotta floors, clean them with a professional machine once a year and carry the cleaning periodically.
Maintenance cleaning of terracotta floors
Periodic vacuuming is sufficient to maintain the cleanliness of the terracotta floor. If it’s a kitchen floor, we recommend vacuuming every day. Then you can wash the floor with a mop and warm water. No detergents are needed if there is no heavy contamination. It is important to dry well so that no dust sticks, and in areas with lime water, you will protect the surface from dried lime stains.
Do not use aggressive detergents.
Strong detergents easily damage the top layer of terracotta tiles. Avoid the use of such preparations. And if you accidentally spill vinegar or other liquid that can corrode the surface, wipe immediately until you altogether remove the spilt stain.
Cleaning between the joints
The joints are very convenient for layering dirt. Baking soda paste and water are enough to clean the joints. Apply the paste to the joints using a toothbrush. Then wash with warm water and dry.
Use a 3: 1 solution of bleach and water for heavily soiled joints. But if the joints are not white, be careful because this mixture will discolour them. Apply the solution between the joints with a toothbrush. When cleaning with baking soda, wait a few minutes, then wash and dry.
Cleaning mould between terracotta tiles in the bathroom
Mould can form if your bathroom has no external window and is poorly ventilated. You can clean it with ammonia and water in equal amounts. Use a brush to rub away mould stains.
Regular cleaning
For periodic cleaning of terracotta, prepare a solution of warm water in which you have dissolved half a glass of vinegar. Even better, clean the solution with warm water with a bit of detergent. These home remedies help clean sticky stains and stains from children and pets.