Susan Buntz

OK, if you are like me, you have a pile of unsightly clay pots sitting inside of each other gathering spider webs and even more crusted dirt, right? That dirt and grime left in the pots harbors pests and diseases that may be detrimental to future plants. Well, it’s high time to drag those pots out and get them cleaned up and presentable for planting again when the need arises! So, how to do it? Read on.

You will need vinegar, water, a rather stiff brush, a container that will hold enough liquid to submerge your pots in and maybe just a smidgen of elbow grease. First, brush off any large chunks of soil and maybe some of the built up salts. You do not have to get all of it off since the next step takes care of the rest. Use one cup of white vinegar to every three to four cups of water. Using less vinegar will necessitate the need to soak your pots longer. Sometimes a bit of bleach can be added for additional disinfecting, but is not necessary.

The vinegar is the workhorse here. Entirely submerge your pot in the vinegar/water solution for about 30 minutes. Remove your pot from the liquid and scrub the grime and salt away. If it comes off easily, it is done! The pot can also be soaked in pure vinegar if especially soiled. The final step is to wash the pot in soapy water or even the dishwasher. Got a very large pot to soak? Soak half at a time, clean, flip over and soak the other half. Let pots dry and now they are neat, tidy and ready for your next plant.

The Smith County Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization in connection with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.