How to Clean Terracotta Pots (without Bleach)

Feb 25, 2020 | Gardening

Dirty terracotta pots can harbor pests and diseases, and accumulate mold and mineral build up. It’s best to give them a good cleaning in between uses or at the end of the season prior to putting them in storage. Before we get into the 4 easy cleaning steps, I want to touch on build up prevention. It makes caring for the pots easier, however, some build up will be inevitable.

MINERAL DEPOSIT PREVENTION

The clay material terracotta pots are made of is porous allowing the pot to breathe. The natural salts and minerals from our water seep through these pores leading to build up on the outside of the pot in the form of a white, powdery crust. This can be prevented by watering plants with distilled water or rainwater, because of its lower mineral content compared to hard water.

MOLD PREVENTION

Keep pots exposed to direct sunlight (for plants that can handle it) which kills mold. Increased air circulation also helps. Watering plants too frequently and keeping plants in low light contributes to mold growth. Plants photosynthesize less and absorb less water from the soil with lower light, leaving the soil and the pot moist for longer periods of time.

Mold on the outside of pots will not harm your plants. However, it can be very harmful to human health, especially with prolonged exposure.

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Step by Step

1. POT BRUSH

Remove loose soil with a pot brush. I really love this pot bristle brush from Esschert Design Flowers.

2. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

An environmentally safe alternative to chlorine-based bleaches. Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a hand pressure sprayer and drench your pots. Let it sit for a few minutes. When the hydrogen peroxide is interacting you’ll hear a sizzling.

Make sure to not expose hydrogen peroxide to light as it will become ineffective.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is another environmentally friendly and powerful option and might be necessary for stubborn build up that won’t budge. Soaking pots in a large bucket filled with 1 part vinegar to 20 parts water for about 30 minutes can help dissolve really stubborn deposits.

3. WATER

Next, use water to rinse and remove the build up. Scrubbing with a toothbrush might be necessary for those really stubborn deposits. I like using a hose because the pressure helps blast any dirt and build up off.