How To Clean Travertine Floors Easy Way

The Complete Guide to Cleaning Travertine

Cleaning travertine is easy... but it's important to know what you are dealing with. One time you learn about the characteristics of travertine and utilize the simple "How To" secrets detailed below your travertine will await fabulous for decades.

Cleaning travertine Guide - How to clean travertine do's and don'ts

TIP: The information provided nigh etching, staining, cleaning and sealing travertine applies to countertops too equally travertine flooring tiles, showers or any other site.

Commencement of all, travertine is a warm and cute natural material that volition complement nearly any design.

Travertine is a stone, of grade, simply not nearly as dense or hard as granite.

Information technology is durable, wears well and volition last lifetimes.

But in a style, it is delicate....

Etching & Staining

Travertine is sensitive to acidic substances (juice, wine, coffee) so it tin etch (dull the polish or finish) rather easily... merely like marble and limestone.

Travertine can stain every bit well, but not as easily as ordinarily thought and stains are controlled with sealing. Note that etching is different from staining which nosotros'll discuss below in the "Sealing" section.

TIP: travertine, marble, and limestone are and then like in composition, chemical and physical characteristics that cleaning procedures and maintenance requirements are substantially the same for all three types of stone.

That's why you lot'll desire to download our comprehensive ebook on cleaning marble (and travertine too). This volume details every technique, method and solution along with all the data and answers yous will always desire or need about protecting, maintaining, repairing, restoring and cleaning travertine, marble or limestone.

Because of the "etching" issue, travertine is not recommended for your kitchen countertop or a high-apply bathroom. Although, a travertine backsplash over the kitchen countertop will await fantastic and won't be problematic. And travertine floor volition be just fine in whatsoever room.

Carving can be repaired on travertine tile and countertops using these handy DIY products depending on the blazon of cease:

Polished (shiny) terminate: Etch Remover - Marble Polishing Powder
Honed or tumbled finish: Etch Remover Polishing Pads - Drill Kit

Best use of travertine is for pulverization bathroom vanity tops, table tops, tub surrounds, showers, floor tile and stone fireplace surrounds.

Sealing Travertine

You may have read well-nigh sealing your stone and maybe that sealing travertine is a hassle, simply I assure you it's no big deal. Uncomplicated every bit... "wipe on - wipe off".

The time and toll involved is really inconsequential when compared to how fabulous travertine countertops and floors expect in your dwelling house — non to mention the added value when compared with other surfaces.

Travertine can stain when honed or tumbled, but polished travertine is near stain-proof and usually doesn't need sealing.

Recommended Tips:

Perform the water test for sealing travertine to decide if a sealer is needed. Apply only if testing shows it is needed.

All sealers are not created equal. Don't waste matter your time or money on ineffective sealers that won't final.

We've used most common sealers (StoneTech, Miracle 511, SCI, Granite Gilt, Weiman's, Aqua Mix) and well-nigh are very boilerplate.

Applying a top-quality sealer like these that nosotros highly recommend volition ensure durable, long-lasting stain-protection to maintain your investment in like-new condition.

Note: Sealing travertine tile volition baby-sit against "stains" merely not "compose marks". This is generally unknown by most consumers and disruptive since people typically call any spot a "stain". Simply in that location is a difference.....

Sealers are practical to protect against "stains" which are a specific type of spot that occurs when a substance absorbs into the stone.

Carving is corrosive damage from contact with acidic foods, drinks or cleaners much similar a burn. Because carving is physical harm to the stone a sealer cannot prevent etching.

Learning and following the all-time travertine cleaning practices outlined in the next section will help minimize the occurrence of etching.

Cleaning Travertine: Practice's & Don'ts

Use the following Exercise's and Don'ts to learn how to make clean travertine, help you avoid bad habits and institute a rubber method for travertine maintenance.

Also, check out the General Care & Cleaning Guide for the best tips on maintaining all types of countertop surfaces and floor tile.

Practice: Absorb up spills immediately. Every bit noted to a higher place, travertine tile is much more sensitive than granite to acidic substances like vino, java, fruit juices, lycopersicon esculentum sauce, sodas, toiletry products and cleaning products that tin etch (dull) the end (on both shiny "polished" and matte "honed" finishes) or stain the surface.

Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft fabric. The only cleaning agents you should use on a regular basis are hot h2o to wipe up crumbs and pocket-size messes and so a stone cleaner in one case daily (or as needed for bigger messes).

I recommend the Granite & Marble Spray Cleaners hither.

Buff dry out with a cotton material or chamois. Using a mild lather occasionally (three-4 times a year) for cleaning travertine won't harm the rock, but consistent employ volition tedious the surface with a soap film.

Exercise: Employ coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans. Bottles, cans and glasses with acidic drinks may etch the polish or impairment the surface leaving a "glass ring."

And so make cleaning travertine easy and avoid expensive marble polishing and marble restoration past treating your travertine surfaces like fine wood furniture. Always utilize coasters... no affair what.

Practise: Use a tray for toiletry products in the bath. A decorative tray can look very nice and it will protect the surface from the damaging chemicals contained in many toiletry products.

Practice: Dust mop your travertine floor tiles regularly. Use a make clean, dry out, non-treated dust mop. Be careful using a vacuum cleaner. Worn parts or grit jammed past the wheels may scratch the surface. Also, mop regularly using a specialized stone floor cleaner.

TIP: Travertine polishing on floor tile makes a very slick surface, so get with a "honed", "flamed" or "tumbled travertine" floor tile. It will look warm and inviting and hide grit and dirt better.

Also, travertine'south distinctive voids and holes should be filled upon installation to keep dirt from accumulating.

Practise: Employ doormats inside and out along with runners and surface area rugs. Dust, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and volition habiliment and scratch travertine floor tiles.

Don't: Use generic, store-bought cleaning products of ANY kind. Cleaning travertine with products bought at your local store that incorporate acids, alkalis, and other chemicals tin can etch or impairment the countertop or tile surface or degrade the sealant leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining.

It may not happen right away and trying to salve money by using cheap, generic surface cleaners only ensures that y'all'll spend a lot more fourth dimension and money on your travertine care in the long-run performing expensive repairs or travertine restoration.

Don't: Apply vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange for cleaning travertine. As noted higher up, a sponge with hot water and a stone cleaner are the only agents to utilize.

Don't: Use a generic bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaner. The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull the surface.

Employ merely products peculiarly formulated for cleaning travertine like the STONE CARE products recommended.

Don't: Sit or stand on your countertops. Unlike laminate countertops, travertine countertops are not flexible and they Practice Not take a plywood backing, so too much weight in ane spot could cause a fissure.

Don't: Place toiletry products directly on your countertop surface. Hair products, toothpaste, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams, lotions, and potions may stain or impairment the surface or etch the finish leaving a dull spot or ring. Protect your countertop by placing these products on a decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!

Consider the Roman Colosseum

OK. I know it seems like in that location is a lot to do and know almost cleaning travertine, merely if you lot think virtually information technology most of the Practise'southward and Don'ts are things you already exercise and don't exercise! And the new tips yous've learned about how to clean travertine are really very like shooting fish in a barrel.

The Roman Colosseum is fabricated of travertine, and then we know information technology is durable. Plus, travertine can be repaired or restored in nearly cases when damaged.

The best advice is to become a dissever cleaning tote for your travertine cleaning products and the products you lot use on other surface types you may have . . . such as granite, quartz or Corian.

Label everything and off you lot become--no issues or guesswork. This is especially handy if you use a cleaning service. You'll never have to worry that you lot or the maid might accidentally use the wrong product. Cleaning travertine is simply a matter of routine.

Merely keep in mind that travertine has stood the test of fourth dimension and information technology is meant to exist used. Then with only a lilliputian TLC, you'll savour its dazzler for years.

Snag a Countertop Specialty coupon code and salve on all the travertine cleaning, sealing, or repair products you may demand.

Cleaning Travertine Questions & Answers

Larn even more than! Click on the links below to see questions submitted by other visitors with consummate answers and great info.

Sealing Travertine Tile Showers
QUESTION: Ok, I know this is a discipline that comes up often, I just desire to brand sure I have this right from everything I've read. I am installing a …

Cleaning Grout & Sealing Travertine Problem
QUESTION: I but had a travertine floor honed surface laid and the installer grouted the tiles and then put an impregnating sealer enhancer on the tile. …

Removing Streaky Travertine Sealer
QUESTION: I installed polished travertine flooring (Jinshan Carmel P/F) which my installer sealed with an unpolished sealer. The results were streaked …

Sealing Travertine Shower
QUESTION: Should I put a sealer on my new travertine showers and floor tile? Reply: Aye... and No... let me explain about sealing …

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