Terracotta Floor Care

Take terra cotta floors for example.

Terracotta floor care.

Since the earliest of times it has been widely used in building and construction. Sealed terracotta has a protective coating usually added after installation that makes it more impervious to stains and easier to clean. Accumulations of dust dirt and sand will eventually break down the sealant which normally happens after two or three years. Use a soft rope mop or soft sponge head mop with warm water to clean when the floor starts to look dull or grimy.

Cleaning tips for terracotta tile flooring do not use acids vinegar ammonia contain solutions as it may break down the sealant and not good for the surface. If after 15 minutes the water has soaked into the floor the tiles will need to be impregnated with boiled linseed oil. Sweep regularly and mop with a mild household detergent preferably a non ionic detergent designed to clean greasy dirt without leaving residue on the tile s surface. Terracotta translates from italian as baked earth and as a category of ceramic tile it refers to tiles created from a particularly porous and easily shaped clay with a high iron content that gives the tiles their characteristic reddish brown color.

This will darken the tiles a little so to get an idea of the finished colour wet the tiles to assess the effect. How to seal terracotta tiles. As much as we love the material it seemingly clashes with today s millennial pink terrazzo infused scandinavian chic decor or so we thought. Do not use a metal mop head which could potentially scratch and harm the terracotta tiles.

Dust or vacuum your terracotta tile floor regularly to keep it clean. Terracotta is italian for baked earth or baked clay. However the amount of maintenance depends on the type of terracotta floor tile. With proper care and maintenance terracotta tiles are going to serve you for many years to come.

Make use of neutral cleaner specially formulated for clay surfaces. To care for a terracotta floor or red floor tiles valmour recommends to protect them and afterwards care for them either in a traditional or in an innovating way to begin with protect your terracotta with tile protector impregnator louis xiii. Tiles water pipes and in the manufacture of household pottery and ornaments. Test your terracotta tiles for porosity by placing water in the middle of a tile.

The broad category of clay ceramic tiles contains several subcategories and one of the oldest is terracotta. Very easy application does not modify the appearance of your floor and protects perfectly against stains of water wine coffee etc apply on a dry and greaseless floor in 2 coats to obtain permanent protection. In its simplest form terracotta is moulded clay that is left to dry in the sun until it becomes hard. With humble beginnings dating back to ancient civilizations the rust hued tile is closely associated with mediterranean styled villas and sweet country cottages.