Page 1 of 1
white stuff on ceramic pottery
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:33 pm
by jim777-
What is the white stuff that forms on ceramic pottery and how do I get rid of it?
Re: white stuff on ceramic pottery
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:39 pm
by applestar
That’s a little vague. Is it powdery, sticky, or crystalline? Soft, sandy/gritty? Easily dissolves with water or alcohol? Or vinegar?
Re: white stuff on ceramic pottery
Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:49 pm
by Vanisle_BC
applestar wrote:That’s a little vague. Is it powdery, sticky, or crystalline? Soft, sandy/gritty? Easily dissolves with water or alcohol? Or vinegar?
Fired or raw?
Re: white stuff on ceramic pottery
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 4:17 pm
by imafan26
I think you are talking about the salts that crystalize on the pots especially around the drain holes.
Scrub any dirt, roots and grime from the pots first with a stiff brush.The pots can be soaked in 10% bleach for about a week. The chlorine will off gas in a couple of days. After that, soak the pots in water, change the water daily to leach out chlorine and more salt. This process will sterilize as well as dissolve the salt. If the terra cotta pot is totally white, from top to bottom, it may not be worth it to save a pot that is that saturated with salt.