Vinegar eats away at natural stone, destroying its surface appearance, and functionality. You should never use a hard bristled broom on stone tile. This can scratch and damage the stone. You should also never use a vacuum cleaner on travertine tile.
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.
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.
Though the Travertine surface is sealed when used on indoor and outdoor floors, it is prone to damage by water. Soaked mop or cloth might cause water infiltration and the surface will gradually get dented before you know it. Hence it is advisable to use a damp cloth. Wring it as much as you can.
The chlorine produced by saline, like the chlorine in traditional pools, can discolor natural stone. Salt presents an additional challenge because it will cause many slates to rust. Similarly, salt water and salt deposits may discolor travertine tile and mosaics.
Q: What happens if I don not seal my travertine floors? - Travertine | Stripping and Sealing. A: Travertine floors can damage easily, any oily or harsh spills can damage the travertine tiles and penetrate the pores leaving a permanent stain, unreachable by domestic cleaning methods.
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.
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.
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.
Never use bleach or ammonia to clean travertine as this will, if used over time, dull and damage the surface of the travertine tiles and cause it to become more porous and more susceptible to stains.
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.
You should seal travertine during the installation process. You'll need to reapply the sealer periodically. How often you need to reapply the sealer depends on the type of sealer as well as how much usage and traffic the travertine gets. Resealing every one to three years is typical.
Simple Green Stone Cleaner is perfect for regular use on marble, granite, quartz, travertine, porcelain, limestone, ceramic, porcelain, Corian®, Silestone®, and other engineered stone.
Travertine tiles require regular cleaning using a pH neutral cleaner. That means no bleach, acid-based, or abrasive products that could cause damage to the tile's surface. Travertine has pits, depressions, and craters that when left alone can collect dirt, dust, and grime.
We've said it before (and we'll say it again) DO NOT use Murphy's Oil Soap on any natural stone surface. Following our 20 years experience and the Marble Institute of America's Maintenance Guidelines, we recommend a neutral PH rinseless stone soap, used with an unbleached clean nylon pad to clean stone.
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.
Wash your travertine tile with a solution of warm water and dish soap. This will remove any grit or dirt that's built up on top of your stone. Rinse well with clean water. You'll want to avoid using paper towels, as they can leave behind unwanted fibers (and then you'll spend hours picking them off).
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)
Remove these stains with a mixture of 12% hydrogen peroxide—food grade hydrogen peroxide—and a few drops of ammonia. Apply the product to the stone on a damp cloth. Place the cloth over the stain to draw out the organic stain.
Combine equal parts water and baking soda with just a splash of your regular cleaning agent. Mix until pasty and scrub into the travertine tile or paver you'd like to clean. Then, cover the surface area of the stain with a thick coating of the mix and allow it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
Travertine is not as durable as Granite. However, if properly cared for, it lasts an eternity. Sealing is the most effective way to preserve the stone for a long duration. With so many stone options to choose from, homeowners swear by the opulence and style of this natural stone.
Classic Travertine Tumbled – Left Unfilled
In areas prone to dampness, mould can quickly develop in the unfilled holes.” To fill the holes in the tumbled travertine, we recommend using a pre-packaged grout in a complementary colour to the stone.
In general, travertine is not a good choice for showers because it is softer than marble, for example, and more porous. Constant exposure to water and moisture can make the naturally occurring pits in travertine grow larger; then the travertine will begin to deteriorate.