Use 1- part baking soda to 4 parts borax and 8 parts water, mix in a spray bottle, spray onto your travertine tiles, then allow to work for 15 minutes. Use a small brush for cleaning grout stains. Rinse well.
⇒ If you want to remove vinegar stains from the natural stone surface, then make a paste of baking soda and acetone. Apply it to the stain and leave it for 24 hours. Now, rinse it with clean water.
What you'll need. Before choosing cleaning products for travertine floors, keep in mind that the stone generally does best with products that are pH neutral. Acids like vinegar, lemon, or other harsh chemicals like bleach can react badly with the stone and cause discoloration and permanent damage.
Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda onto the tile (it should fizz slightly as it reacts with the vinegar), then gently scrub the surface with a sponge dampened with water.
Vinegar and other acidic cleaners can stain them, etch the surface, and end up ruining their appearance, so steer clear of vinegar when you're cleaning them. This goes for all tiles made from cement or natural stone, including quartz, travertine, granite, marble, limestone, and slate tiles.
Vinegar will slowly dissolve the sealer on the grout and tile, allowing dirt, oils, and stains to penetrate deeper into the grout. Using Vinegar on grout can also cause the grout to breakdown overtime. And, that strong acid could damage the finish on the tile too.
If the stain is on a light colored stone, use bleach or hydrogen peroxide; if the stain is on a dark colored stone, it is best to use acetone or lacquer thinner. Apply the product to the stone on a damp cloth. Place the cloth over the stain to draw out the ink stain.
To kill off mold and mildew and keep your investment looking its best, travertine can be cleaned with a peroxide-based product like Oxiclean, which will not harm the polish on your travertine. Remember, hydrogen peroxide can bleach fabric, so, like bleach, watch your clothes and linens.
Travertine will absorb harsh chemicals, which again will damage the stone. Do not use products like MR Clean, dish soap, Windex, or anything like these products. These products leave a residue on top of the travertine tiles, collecting and attracting dust and dirt.
If you want to keep your stone countertops looking beautiful, don't reach for vinegar. The acid etches and dulls natural stone such as marble and limestone. It can slowly dissolve them, according to Beckman.
Consider purchasing a floor cleaner formulated for travertine to use regularly. The label should clearly state if the cleanser is formulated specifically for travertine. Opt for a cleanser with a neutral pH of 7 or below. You can also use mild dish soap to clean travertine floors 3-4 times per year.
DON'T: Use ammonia or vinegar to clean travertine
Certain acids or alkali in these chemicals may degrade the sealant, leaving the stone much more vulnerable to damages and staining. Take care not to overly drench or soak the mop in water, as the liquid may infiltrate the pores and cause mould to grow.
Household ammonia is ideal for attacking vinegar stains: using a sponge, dab the ammonia onto the fabric. Continue dabbing until the stain has lightened in colour—this may take five to 15 minutes of continuous treatment.
If you want to attempt to remove product residue or hard water build up yourself, spray the stone with a pH-neutral, stone-safe cleaner and allow ample dwell time to soften the residue. Then using gentle pressure and a white Scotch Brite pad or a Dobie pad, clean the stone.
Removing Stains from Travertine Tiles
Try mixing baking soda with water to form a paste and rub it into the tiles. Allow the thick paste to sit on the tile for 15 minutes before cleaning it off. Never use harsh cleaners or take drastic measures in an attempt to remove stains from travertine tile.
Avoid citrus or vinegar cleaning agents
Both these elements will cause the Travertine surface to dull. Acidic substances like lemon, orange peels, baking soda, vinegar slowly may penetrate the surface to cause irreparable damage.
SAFE: Water. Granite and/or Natural Stone-specific products. Water and rubbing alcohol mix 16:1 (a.k.a. 1-quart water to 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol)
Over time excessive amounts of water can cause Travertine to lose its shine and causes a white chalky looking build-up. The hard water causes this build-up. The calcium in the water builds up on the Travertine. Efflorescence is another stain in Travertine that is caused by water.
Clean and clear the floor of all debris, dirt and dust using a vacuum, soft bristle broom or microfiber dust mop. Apply Simple Green Multi-Surface Floor Care. Spray the cleaning solution as a light mist across your floor section by section. Mop up in sections.
If you are deep cleaning travertine, then you can use a strong alkali cleaner, but you must remember to rinse the floor well to remove all traces of the cleaner. If you are undertaking regular maintenance clean, then use a ph Neutral cleaner, preferably containing a small amount of stone soap or linseed oil.
In a bowl, combine 2 cups water, 1.5 cups baking soda, 1/3 cup vinegar, and 1/3 cup Dawn. Using a spoon, gently stir, making sure there are no lumps. Add the mixture to a clean spray bottle. Spray the floor with the mixture.