How to Clean Salts Out of Clay Pots
Clay pots are decorative and attractive and an ideal medium for many plants and flowers. The porous properties of clay allow plants to breathe, help hinder over-watering and aid in protecting root systems in extreme temperatures. Ugly white buildup---or salt deposits---can mar the appearance of clay pots and may dehydrate root stems. Cleaning salt out of clay pots is important both for the health of your plant and to retain the beauty of your vessel. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Dish detergent
- Baking soda
- Soft-bristled brush
- Vinegar
- Bleach
- Dishwasher
- Powder dishwasher detergent
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
Instructions
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1
Clean the inside and outside of the pot from excess dirt and debris with warm soapy water and a soft-bristled brush. Rinse well.
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2
Remove outside salt deposits with a soft brush and a paste made from baking soda and water. The paste should be the consistency of oatmeal and not so thin it is runny. Rinse well.
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3
Soak the inside of the pot in pure vinegar for up to 12 hours for extremely crusty deposits. If the pot is exceedingly large, you may cut the vinegar with water, but straight vinegar is most effective.
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4
Discard vinegar and run the pot (if feasible) through your dishwashing cycle with your regular dishwasher powder detergent. You may add a cup or two of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher if desired. Be sure to turn off your "hot dry" option on the dishwasher to avoid baking on any remaining residue that is not removed during the cycle.
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Examine the pot for any remaining residue. For tougher deposits, mix a bleach solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water and soak in the pot for up to 30 minutes. Bleach can have a caustic effect on clay if left on for too long or if it is too strong, so more is not better in this scenario. Rinse well.
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6
Remove any remaining deposits on the outside of the pot with a solution of rubbing alcohol, vinegar and water. Mix solution in a spray bottle and spray the outside heavily, scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush.
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7
Perform a final clean on the pot with a warm soapy water solution to remove any remaining bleach or cleaning solution. Rinse well and allow the pot to dry thoroughly before using.
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Tips & Warnings
Clay can crack and break when subjected to freezing and thawing---so be sure to keep pots protected during extreme weather conditions. Use pot feet to keep the pot off the ground to avoid cracking for larger clay pots you cannot move indoors.
