One of the most visually appealing choices in flooring is terracotta tiles. They offer an “Old World” richness and durability that transition easily between exterior and interior functionality. If you’re looking to lend a bit of rustic charm to your décor, terracotta tiles make for a marvelous choice. Many of the Southwestern, Spanish or Italian style homes feature terracotta tile.

There are many more pros than cons to choosing terracotta tile, but it does require some maintenance in order to uphold its beauty and delightful earthy coloring. Since it is relatively soft, terracotta may be more susceptible to scratches, chips or stains or oxidation. Therefore, it goes without saying that you need to be a bit more gentle and caring with your terracotta tiles than you would be with other types of flooring. This is because terracotta is of a porous clay material, which are the same earthen materials used in many types of pottery and stoneware.

So, here are some tips to care for terracotta tile:

• Apply sealer to increase water resistance (preferably before installing)
• Use warm, sudsy water such as mild dish soap to clean up spills as soon as accidents occur or to clean up surface dirt
• Do not get anything with high citric acids on it … such as lemon cleaners or bleach, vinegar, coffee, etc.
• To remove surface dirt, scrub with a stiff scrubbing brush or pad and rinse with warm water
• Use grout cleaner occasionally to brighten the cracks and crevices in between the terracotta tiles
• After mopping you can use a microfiber cloth to wipe dry The general care and maintenance of terracotta tile is fairly easy and if done frequently will make your terracotta tiles last a long time. In fact, many terracotta floors will last for generations (even centuries). You will enjoy any of the high quality terracotta tile products at Exquisite Ceramics. Our helpful team will give you plenty of advice about terracotta care and maintenance after we install it properly for you.