How do I clean my bonsai pots

[coocarch]

I have some glazed pots and they seem to have this fine layer of grime and I would like to clean them. Unfortunatly I haven't the slightest clue as to how. So does anyone know of any household materials I can use? So far I've tried cooking oil, furniture polish, soap (disenfectant), and methylated spirits. So far nothing has worked. So could someone please give me a plan of action with stuff I've probably got lying around the house? Thanks in advance for any of the help!

[kcpoole]

Vinegar and water will I think Remove gunk, and a light Scrub with a plastic scourer to help

Ken

[Brad75]

Hiyo,

When I have to wash my bonsai pots I use Morning Fresh aand hot water plus a good polyester scourer. One of the yellow sponges with the dark green backing does the trick everytime. Don't worry about using soap with plants; the surfactants break down cleanly.

I hope that helps,

Brad Jackson aka Brad75.

[Jan]

Vinegar and water will I think Remove gunk, and a light Scrub with a plastic scourer to help

If that doesn't work for you try Bicard Soda; moisten a cleaning cloth, dip it in the bicarb (white powder) and rub on the area to be cleaned. Acts as a scourer but doesn't scratch anything so good for glazed pots,

Best of luck, Jan.

[Pup]

Good old WD40, it will remove lime and salt build up as well, and just about any thing else around the house that needs cleaning.

I use it all the time for cleaning my pots both glazed and unglazed.

Cheers Pup

[phantom]

I hope your not cleaning the patina of the pots?

[coocarch]

@Phantom
What the heck is patina?
@Everyone else
Thanks for the help! I have yet to try any of these so thank you all for helping!

[Jow]

@Phantom
What the heck is patina?

Have a look at the following links.

Patina is basically a build up of grit and grime that forms a coloured layer on the pot.

http://nichigobonsai.com/2012/02/20/ant ... inese-pot/
http://nichigobonsai.com/2010/12/19/patina/

[Brian]

I hope your not cleaning the patina of the pots?

Thats an excellent point, patina happens over time to pottery. the Japanese hold it in high esteem that a pot is weathered and aged.

By the way, whoever suggested wd40 to clean should be warned not to do that. Its kerosene based and death to tree roots .

[Pup]

I hope your not cleaning the patina of the pots?

Thats an excellent point, patina happens over time to pottery. the Japanese hold it in high esteem that a pot is weathered and aged.

By the way, whoever suggested wd40 to clean should be warned not to do that. Its kerosene based and death to tree roots .

i am sorry Brian but you are wrong, the main ingrediant of WD40 is Fish oil as used in fishemulsion.

As in water displacement no 40 it was invented when they wanted something to protect the space shuttle.

I have never had a problem with it and have been using it for many years.

Cheers Pup

[Brian]

Oh well Pup, I don't know if thats correct, i just looked it up and found this -

What a Fish story!
Myth: WD-40 contains fish oil.
Fact:
Consumers have told us over the years that they have caught some of the biggest fish ever after protecting their fish hooks and lures with WD-40. We believe this legend came from folks assuming that the product must contain fish oil since it appears to attract fish. Sorry , it just ain’t so.

[cre8ivbonsai]

from http://www.wd40.com.au/wd40/faq.php ...
"What does WD-40 contain?
While the ingredients in WD-40 are secret, we can tell you what WD-40 does NOT contain. WD-40 does not contain silicone, kerosene, water, wax, fish oil, graphite, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or any known cancer-causing agents."

[cre8ivbonsai]

Patina is basically a build up of grit and grime that forms a coloured layer on the pot.

Thats an excellent point, patina happens over time to pottery. the Japanese hold it in high esteem that a pot is weathered and aged.

So basically you can have your pots looking new by cleaning/oiling them, or you can retain the patina to help show the age of the pot (a bit like bark texture on a trunk helps to show the true maturity of a tree) ... up to you ...

[Jow]

Patina is basically a build up of grit and grime that forms a coloured layer on the pot.

Thats an excellent point, patina happens over time to pottery. the Japanese hold it in high esteem that a pot is weathered and aged.

So basically you can have your pots looking new by cleaning/oiling them, or you can retain the patina to help show the age of the pot (a bit like bark texture on a trunk helps to show the true maturity of a tree) ... up to you ...

Not really. If you have a pot with a patina, the only way to remove it is with chemicals and or a lot of scrubbing. The same goes for preventing it forming. It is something all pots in use form, its just that it take a long time to become dark and noticable.

The last picture on the below link shows an old chinese tea pot where someone has tried to scrub the patina off basically ruining its value.

http://www.bonsaipots.net/index.php?pag ... n-old-pots <-- another good link on Patina.

The correct way to prepare a pot for exhibition is to remove dirt and loose particles with a damp cloth, then if you like you can lightly oil the pot with a vegitable based oil. I have also seen natural furniture wax (from what i could tell on the japanese packaging it was a mix of bees wax and sunflower oil) used as a substitute for oil. Some say a regular light oiling can actually inhance and speed up the patina process.

Be careful with the amount of oil, you only need a hint on a rag to do a pot. Too much and the pot looks too shiney and crass. You want to oil the pot but keep a satin finish or matt finish if you can. Also bare in mind that oils can stain clays and darken the colours.

Removing calcium scale is a whole other issue and one i am yet to find an acceptable method.

Hope that helps.

[cre8ivbonsai]

Ahhh ... thanks for the clarification Jow