Washing and Treating Handmade Terracotta: Why It’s Essential
How to clean a handmade terracotta floor? Terracotta is a living, porous, and highly absorbent material. For this reason, it requires careful and specific maintenance to preserve its technical and aesthetic qualities over time. When it comes to how to clean a terracotta floor, washing and treatment are not optional steps—they are essential processes that protect the floor’s integrity, shield it from dirt, and make it water-resistant without compromising its natural appearance.
Terracotta floor before and after washing and treatment.
Washing: Preparing the Material
The first step in cleaning a terracotta floor is washing it with buffered acid. This operation is essential to remove production residues, surface dirt, and to open the pores of the material. Buffered acid can be used either pure or diluted with water, depending on the condition of the terracotta. Once applied, it should be left to act for a few minutes before proceeding with vigorous scrubbing using a single-disc floor machine or stiff-bristled manual brushes. Finally, the washing process ends with a thorough rinse with clean water, which removes all remaining residues and prepares the surface for the next treatment.
Treatment and Finishing: Protection, Durability, and Aesthetics
After washing the floor, it’s important to apply specific water-repellent and anti-stain products designed for terracotta. These breathable impregnating agents help protect the material from absorbing liquids and oils, thus preventing stains from forming.
Fornace Bernasconi recommends using water-based products, which are less chemically aggressive and perfectly aligned with the principles of green building. These treatments don’t create a surface film; instead, they penetrate the material, preserving its breathability and natural appearance.
For outdoor use, we advise against the use of waxes or products that form a surface coating. It’s better to choose treatments that can deeply penetrate the material. For long-lasting protection—especially on small surfaces—we recommend Scudo, a water-based water-repellent product. Thanks to its nanotechnology-based formula, it provides effective and long-term defense.
Periodic Maintenance: A Strategic Choice
Washing and treatment aren’t one-time tasks when it comes to properly cleaning a terracotta floor. To ensure the surface remains durable, hygienic, and beautiful over time, it’s essential to schedule regular maintenance—how often depends on the level of use the floor is exposed to.
Turning to experienced professionals is by far the best option for identifying the most suitable products and the most effective maintenance techniques. With years of expertise in handmade terracotta, Fornace Bernasconi offers qualified support and customized solutions to meet every technical and aesthetic need.
