How to clean bleach stained cotto?

What to do if bleach was used to clean the cotto and it got stained? Here are all the steps to bring it back to its normal condition.

The use of bleach on cotto, for its cleaning, is a widespread practice, but not correct, because it does not take into account the particular characteristics of this material. It is in fact an extremely delicate surface that must be protected and treated with the right products.

So what if bleach has been used on cotto? No fear! Let’s see all the steps to bring the surface back to normal conditions.

Eliminating bleach on cotto: here are the steps

The bleach decays the cotto and could ruin the protective treatment. To remedy the surface must be de-waxed with the combined use of SGRISER, VIACEM and BROWN BUFFER (or BROWN DISC) and subsequently reprocessed.

Dewaxing and re-treating everything serves to avoid uneven color of the floor.

Step 1 – Apply Sgriser and let it act

First of all, the advice is to apply the pure SGRISER wax remover product on the cotto. It is an alkaline detergent/solvent for strong degreasing dewaxing washing on all stone materials, including cotto.

SGRISER removes old oil and/or wax impregnation treatments, facilitates the removal of “dark stains” from sulphation on cotto and is ideal for carrying out a strong degreasing descaling cleaning, for the removal of oil stains, greasy substances, smog, biological encrustations (algae, mold, guano, etc.). At this point it is recommended to let SGRISER act for at least 10 – 20 minutes, up to 12 hours.

Phase 2 – New Sgriser application, Brown Buffers or Brown Discs

If, after a first application of SGRISER, the surface remains dry, the advice is to wet it again with the product. If you prefer manual washing, this operation should be followed by rubbing the cotto surface with BROWN BUFFERS, consisting of a polyester structure with a high density of resin and mineral. Characterized by a high resistance to acid or alkaline substances, they are used wet to carry out manual de-waxing and descaling washes, and are ideal for descaling and de-waxing cleaning on cotto.

Alternatively, in case of washing with a single disc machine, we recommend the use of the BROWN DISC, also composed of a polyester structure with a high density of resin and mineral, characterized by high resistance to acid or alkaline substances and ideal for descaling / de-waxing cleaning on cotto. This combination of chemical action with mechanical action must be carried out until the formation of pulp.

Step 3 – Rinse and apply Viacem, Brown Buffers or Brown Discs

Then rinse the surface with clean water, repeating the operation if the surface is not uniform, and apply VIACEM, a strong buffered acid detergent for cotto and terracotta, brick, klinker and all materials resistant to strong acids. VIACEM can be used in pure or diluted form (1 part of the product in an equal amount of water) and then the cotto must be rubbed with BROWN BUFFERS or BROWN DISCS, until it stops frying.

Step 4 – Rinse again

Finally, proceed by rinsing the surface several times with clean water. Finally, once the bleach on the cotto has been eliminated, three different combinations of products can be used for the new treatment (indoors) of the cotto, based on the desired effect:

• Natural effect

Apply EXCEL PLUS, a product for the oleophobic protection of absorbent stone materials (such as cotto). It can be applied with a cloth, sponge or fleece wax spreader, evenly wetting the surface to be treated, following the absorption of the material. After redistributing any excess on the material, using a cloth, wait 1-2 hours for complete drying. In the case of highly absorbent materials, such as cotto, 2 coats are recommended.

• Toned effect

For a toned effect, we recommend the use of PALLADIUM, an oil-waxy toning impregnating agent for stone materials. It should be distributed evenly with a brush and cloth, following the absorption of the material. Once dried, after at least 4 – 8 hours in good ventilation conditions, the surface is polished with a soft cloth or soft brush, or a second coat is applied to complete the saturation of the material (which will be followed by a polishing after drying).

• Wet effect 

The wet effect is obtained, on the other hand, with the use of TUSCANIA OIL, an oil-wax protective stain-resistant impregnating agent with a wet and aged effect for cotto and terracotta placed inside. This product should be applied with a fleece, brush or rag, wetting the surface evenly and following the absorption of the cotto. After about 30-60 minutes, therefore, the excesses of the product can be removed from the surface, then it is necessary to wait (from 8 to 12 hours) for drying.

Then you can dry polish the surface with a soft disc and brush, apply a second coat of TUSCANIA OIL and after complete drying (24-48 hours), dry polish with a soft disc or brush.

In the case of personalized treatments, pigment TUSCANIA OIL with 3-15% of OILTONER

Whether you want to obtain a natural, toned or wet effect, the use of the specific products mentioned above must be followed by that of IDROFIN MATT, anti-dirt and wear-resistant matt finisher for stone materials or, alternatively, IDROFIN LUCIDO glossy finish.

Cotto: what it is and what its characteristics are

Cotto is a building material, used as a coating, obtained by the particular treatment and firing of clay. Considered in the past a poor material, over time it has become in great demand and valuable, historically produced in Battipaglia, Castel Viscardo, Faenza, Ferrara, Impruneta and Marsciano.

The cotto, then, due to its particular realization (the clay is baked in ovens for about 18 hours at temperatures between 800 and 1200 ° C) is particularly delicate, absorbs everything and therefore must be treated with care and with the right products.

The use of bleach on cotto, for cleaning, is wrong, because it removes the protective treatment necessary to prevent the surface from getting stained. It is therefore necessary, for the elimination of bleach, a new treatment of the flooring.