Housekeeping House Cleaning Cleaning Tips How to Clean Terra-Cotta Pots This important container gardening chore is as easy as washing a dish By Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Her work has appeared in GQ, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times and Town & Country. A graduate of Barnard College, Jolie lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her five vacuum cleaners. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on May 24, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Westend61/Getty Images Terra-cotta pots are a popular choice for container gardening, not only for their beautiful orange hue — terra-cotta translates to "baked earth"—but for their absorption, which helps to prevent over-watering. But the absorptive properties of terra-cotta also make the material prone to mineral deposits, as the clay absorbs fertilizers and water. Those mineral deposits, as well as algae growth, can be detrimental to plants. In this guide, you'll find step-by-step instructions for cleaning terra-cotta pots to get them ready for a new planting season, or for when they need to be emptied and placed in storage. Additionally, there are signs to look out for that indicate a terra-cotta pot needs to be disinfected prior to reuse or being stored, and several methods to choose from when it comes to sterilizing these growing containers. How to Paint Terra-Cotta Pots Getting Started Regular upkeep of terra-cotta pots will help to preserve their color. At its most basic, cleaning a terra-cotta pot involves removing old soil and debris, and washing the pot in a solution of dishwashing liquid, just as you would wash a pot used for cooking. However, over time, white mineral deposits from plant food and hard water, as well as green algae growth, mold, and mildew will build up on terra-cotta, obscuring its beautiful orange hue and making the pot itself an unwelcoming vessel for plant life. Mineral deposits, in particular, can sap plants of water, leading to dehydration or burning. While some gardeners prefer the more rustic look of stained and aged terra-cotta pots, pieces with green or white stains should be disinfected after cleaning to ensure plants don't become dehydrated from prolonged exposure to mineral deposits. How to Build a Terra-Cotta Fountain How to Clean a Terra-Cotta Pot Cleaning a terra-cotta pot is similar to washing dishes. After cleaning the pots, inspect them to determine if they need to be disinfected before being refilled or stored. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Stiff-bristled scrub brush Materials Dust mask Protective gloves Dish soap Distilled white vinegar (optional) Instructions Remove Dirt Start by removing, and disposing of, old potting soil and any plant debris from the pot. Then, use a stiff-bristled scrub brush to remove any soil clinging to the sides or bottom of the pot. Donning a dust mask and protective gloves is recommended for this job. Alternatively, use a garden hose to dislodge caked-on dirt. Soak Pots in Detergent Solution Identify a place large enough to fully submerge the pot, or pots, in water, such as the kitchen sink, a utility sink, a large bucket, or even the bathtub. Fill the sink with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap to make a detergent solution. Place the terra-cotta pots in the detergent solution. Scrub Pots Use a stiff-bristled scrub brush, steel wool pad, or scouring sponge to scrub the pots. Rinse Pots Drain the detergent solution and rinse the pots very well in clean water. Inspect the pots for algae or salt stains; algae stains will appear green, while salt stains will be white. If signs of either remain after cleaning, follow the instructions in Step 5 for disinfecting the pots. Disinfect Pots (Optional) If, after cleaning, the terra-cotta pots show signs of algae or salt stains, disinfect them before refilling or storing. To disinfect pots by soaking, make a solution of equal parts distilled white vinegar and water, and soak the pots for at least 30 minutes. Then, remove the pots from the vinegar solution, discard it, and allow the pots to dry completely in the sun before filling with fresh soil and plants, or storing. Alternatively, terra-cotta pots can be disinfected by washing them in the top rack of the dishwasher. Refill or Store Pots If you will be immediately filling a terra-cotta pot after cleaning it, leave it wet, as a dry pot will suck moisture out of potting soil. If you will be storing the pot after cleaning, allow it to dry completely; never store a wet or damp terra-cotta pot. Store terra-cotta pots rim side-down indoors, and avoid stacking them inside one another, if possible. If they must be stacked, place pieces of newspaper between them to prevent them from sticking together, which can cause damage when they're separated. Disinfecting Terra-Cotta Pots Cleaning and disinfecting, or sterilizing, terra-cotta pots are two different things. Before disinfecting a pot, it is important to first clean it by removing dirt and debris. Once it is clean, the pot can then be disinfected, using one of two methods. The first method is to soak the pots in a disinfecting solution. While a solution of one part chlorine bleach to nine parts water may be used for this, distilled white vinegar is a better choice because it is a safer, gentler cleaning agent that is just as effective. Regardless of which disinfecting solution you choose to use, never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, as doing so creates a dangerous chemical reaction that results in the production of toxic gasses. To disinfect pots by soaking, make a solution of equal parts distilled white vinegar and water, and soak the pots for at least 30 minutes. Then, remove the pots from the vinegar solution, discard it, and allow the pots to dry completely in the sun before filling with fresh soil and plants, or storing. Another way to disinfect terra-cotta pots after cleaning them is to wash them in the top rack of the dishwasher, as the heat from the dishwasher will eliminate mineral deposits and algae growth.