Travertine is a type of stone that is refined after quarrying for use in countertops, backsplashes and flooring. While the stone is beautiful and hard, you need to take care when it comes to travertine cleaning and maintenance. Travertine is durable and can last your lifetime and longer, but it is not as hard as granite.
While there are things you can and should do to keep your stone countertops and flooring clean, you may also need the stone cleaning and restoring services of the knowledgeable professionals of Groutsmith Tulsa to really restore your travertine to mint condition.
Start with Proper Sealing
Travertine is a very porous stone, so it can easily soak up liquids, leading to stains, discoloration, degradation and mold growth. The way to prevent this is to have the stone properly sealed during and after installation, and then periodically throughout its lifespan.
But keep in mind, sealing will protect against stains but not etch marks. Acidic substances such as juice, wine and coffee can dull the polish or finish, just as they would marble or limestone. Etching can be repaired on a polished travertine surface with a dedicated etch remover/marble polisher product, and there are a variety of home methods to address the problem on honed or tumbled travertine finishes.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Don’t use generic store-bought cleaning products in any shape or form. These can contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals that can damage the countertop or tile surface, or make the sealant degrade, so the stone is more at risk of staining.
You also shouldn’t employ vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange for cleaning travertine. A generic bathroom, tub and tile or grout cleaners are also out, because they contain abrasives that scratch and dull the surface. Use only products specially formulated for cleaning travertine.
Don’t sit or stand on your travertine countertops – the weight could cause them to crack. And finally, don’t put toiletry products directly on your countertop surfaces. They may stain or damage the surface or etch the finish, leaving a dull spot or ring. A nice decorative tray is the way to go.
What You Should Do
You shouldn’t wait: blot up spills immediately, before the juice, coffee, ketchup, wine, toiletry product or whatever etch or stain the surface.
Use a sponge or soft cloth and hot water for minor travertine cleaning messes. For bigger ones, you can use a safe and dedicated stone-cleaning product. Then buff dry with a cotton cloth or chamois.
Use coasters for all glasses, cups, bottles and cans, avoiding “glass rings” and travertine surface damage. Use a tray for bathroom toiletry products, keeping harsh chemicals away from the stone surface.
Dust mop your travertine floor tiles regularly, with a clean, dry, non-treated dust mop. And mop with a specialized stone floor cleaner. Be careful, and perhaps avoid, using a vacuum cleaner, which may wind up scratching the stone surface.
Contact Groutsmith Tulsa today for a free in-home estimate and demonstration to show you how we can clean, seal, repair and restore your beautiful travertine countertops or flooring.
