Cleaning. In everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH cleaner are sufficient. Mild all-purpose cleaners, mild washing-up foam and all commercially available sanitary and kitchen cleaners without hydrofluoric acid (HF) are suitable. The porcelain is almost completely acid-proof – even acetic, citric and hydrochloric acid have practically no effect on the slab. Take up spilled liquids promptly, because shadows can be visually apparent on the dark brown surface; the material itself, however, is non-porous and therefore stain-proof.
Do not use. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) and fluoride-bearing cleaners are the only class of substance that can genuinely attack porcelain – they occur practically only in industrial glass and stone cleaners and are not relevant in the household. And even though the slab is hard: steel wool and strongly abrasive pads can cause the finest dulling on the polished variant.
Sealing. Not required – porcelain is inherently dense and non-porous, water absorption is below 0.1 %. A sealer would tend to show on the surface as a film and is superfluous.
Dark brown slabs and the naturale matt surface. On a dark brown, naturale matt slab, water marks, limescale spots, fingerprints and grease films become visible as lighter shadows. We recommend prompt drying off with a soft microfibre cloth after each use. The naturale matt surface reacts more sensitively to smear films than polished material; regular cleaning with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner is sufficient.
Kitchen. In kitchen use, Ossido Bruno is technically almost unbeatable: hot pans can be set down directly for short periods (the slab is unaffected well beyond 200 °C), acids such as vinegar, wine, lemon and tomato leave no traces, and there are no cut marks from polyester resin damage. Nevertheless we recommend chopping boards (knife blades blunt more quickly on the hard slab) and trivets when cooking as standard practice. The patina structures look particularly authentic on the dark brown slab – small traces of daily use blend in well.
Bathroom. In the bathroom the slab is fully usable as a washstand, wall cladding, bath surround and shower. Anti-limescale sprays and all commercially available sanitary cleaners are approved.
Wall accent and furniture. As a wall cladding or furniture top (bar counter, reception), Ossido Bruno works particularly well with the naturale matt surface, because the patina structure becomes tangible to the touch. In thin thicknesses (3 mm), lightweight wall claddings, interior doors and furniture fronts are also possible.
Outdoors and frost. Fully suitable. The slab is UV-stable, frost- and weather-resistant and can be used as a rear-ventilated façade panel, external wall cladding, pool surround and outdoor kitchen worktop. The industrial patina appearance looks particularly authentic in external use and visually recalls Corten steel façades.
Scratches and repair. Porcelain is very hard (about Mohs 7) and therefore considerably more scratch-resistant than most natural materials. Deeper damage cannot simply be re-polished – repair is carried out by replacing the affected workpiece. Particular care is therefore required during fabrication at edges and cut-outs; mitred joints should be executed by experienced specialist firms with special adhesive – with Ossido Bruno additionally with attention to the patina structures at the edges.
