How To Clean Terracotta Floors

In the most general terms, there are two different types or processes for cleaning terracotta. The first and most common is what we call “Maintenance Cleaning” or light cleaning. This is a regular cleaning process (ie daily or weekly) and is designed to maintain a good level of floor hygiene and appearance. The second type of floor cleaning is referred to as “Deep Cleaning”, where you apply a more intensive process to achieve a substantial improvement in floor appearance.

Here we break down these two types of floor cleaning. We have focused on cleaning with the i-mop; however, you could apply these steps with most types of floor cleaning machines.

Maintenance cleaning: of terracotta floors

1. Dust mop or sweep floor to remove dust, hair and debris.

2. Use safety signage to warn passers by that cleaning is in progress and floors may be slippery.

3. Fill i-mop solution tank with water

4. If required, add chemicals.

(Note: Unless your floor is particularly dirty, we recommend only adding chemical every second time you clean your floor. Regular cleaning with just water helps ensure you avoid soil-attracting chemical residue build-up):

4.1 Insert the appropriate i-dose pod into the i-dose chamber:

4.1.1 Bathroom floors: use i-dose E33 Washroom cleaner (Pink)\ ii. Kitchen or workshop floors: use i-dose E73 Degreaser (Green)\ iii. General areas: use i-dose E33 Sanitary Floor cleaner (Blue)

4.2 Press i-dose injector button to dispense chemical into tank.

4.3 If you do not have an i-dose tank, manually dilute chemical into i-mop tank according to chemical manufacturer's recommendations.

5. Select and attach brushes. Refer to the i-mop Accessories Guide for further information on brush options, however the most common brushes for cleaning terracotta are the Medium blue brushes (the standard brushes supplied with the i-mop)

6. Lower the i-mop deck and turn i-mop control knob to normal cleaning mode (brush, water & vacuum) to begin cleaning the floor. Refer to our Operator Training Video for detailed Operator instructions. For maximum efficiency, cleaning in long straight lines, overlapping slightly.

7. Anytime you need to refill the solution tank, ensure you empty the recovery tank.

Deep cleaning: terracotta floors

1. For best results we strongly recommend you have a Deep Scrub Bracket fitted to your i-mop (only available for i-mop xl/xxl).

2. Dust mop or sweep vinyl floor to remove dust, hair and debris.

3. Use safety signage to warn passers by that cleaning is in progress and floors may be slippery.

4. Fill i-mop solution tank with water

5. Add chemicals:

5.1 Insert the appropriate i-dose pod into the i-dose chamber:

5.1.1 Bathroom floors: use i-dose E33 Washroom cleaner (Pink)\ ii. Kitchen or workshop floors: use i-dose E73 Degreaser (Green)\ iii. General areas: use i-dose E33 Sanitary Floor cleaner (Blue)

5.2 Press i-dose injector button to dispense chemical into tank.

5.3 If you do not have an i-dose tank, manually dilute chemical into i-mop tank according to chemical manufacturer's recommendations.

6. Select and attach brushes. Refer to our Accessories Guide for further information on brush options, however the most common brushes for deep cleaning of terracotta are the Medium blue or hard red brushes.

6.1 Use pad drives with black pads (and floor stripper) if you are stripping sealer from terracotta floors)

7. Ensure scrub bracket is lowered to lift the squeegee off the floor

8. Lower i-mop deck and turn i-mop control knob to deep scrub cleaning mode (brush & water, no vacuum). Refer to our Operator Training Video for detailed Operator instructions.

9. Begin scrubbing the vinyl floor, ensuring enough chemical is applied to keep the floor wet for at least 5 minutes. It is recommended to deep clean the floor in sections of no more than 20-30 sqm at a time.

10. Once you have sufficient chemical on the floor you can switch to scrub only mode and continue agitation, ensuring floor does not dry out. Switch to brush & water mode again to apply more solution if floor is drying out.

11. For best results give chemical at least 10 minutes of dwell time while completing at least 2 scrub passes over each section of floor.

12. When you are ready to extract soiling, raise the scrub bracket so the i-mop squeegee is in full contact with the floor. Switch i-mop to brush/vacuum or brush/water/vacuum mode.

13. Remove soiling from the floor by cleaning the entire tiled floor as you would for a regular maintenance clean.

Read: Top 10 questions answered about the i-fibre microfiber cleaning system from i-team.

Important: If you have refilled your solution tank with more cleaning solution while scrubbing, remember that you will have to empty your recovery tank partway through to ensure it does not over-fill.

For more information on how to use the i-mop floor scrubbing machine to do a deep clean of your marble floors, watch the video below.

1. What is the best way to clean terracotta floors?
Answer: The best method to clean terracotta floors is using a pH-neutral cleaner, warm water, and a soft mop. Avoid harsh chemicals as terracotta is porous and can be damaged by acidic or alkaline solutions.

2. How often should terracotta floors be resealed?
Answer: Depending on foot traffic and use, terracotta floors should be resealed every 2-3 years to protect them from staining and water absorption. Applying a good sealant helps maintain the floor's natural beauty and durability.

3. What should you avoid when cleaning terracotta floors?
Answer: Avoid using vinegar, bleach, or any acidic cleaners as they can erode the sealant and damage the terracotta tiles. Also, steer clear of steam mops, which can force moisture into the porous tiles.