Cleaning Travertine Guide

First of all, travertine is warm and beautiful with unique pattern and color characteristics that complements almost any design. But in a way, it is delicate. Travertine is a stone, of course, but not nearly as dense or hard as granite. Travertine will wear well and last forever, however it is porous and sensitive to acidic substances (juice, wine, coffee) so it can stain or etch (dull the polish) rather easily . . . even when sealed.

So using travertine for you kitchen countertop or heavily used bathroom is not generally recommended. Travertine floor tile, however, will be just fine in any room.

Best use of travertine is for powder baths, table tops, tub surrounds, showers, floor tile and stone fireplace surrounds.

 Use the following Do's and Don'ts to help you avoid bad habits and establish a safe method for travertine care.

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

Do's and Don'ts
Do: Seal Your Travertine Annually.
You may have read about sealing your stone and all the "hassle" cleaning travertine is, but I assure you it's no big deal. The job is as simple as … "wipe on … wipe off". The time and cost involved is really inconsequential when compared to how fabulous travertine counter tops and floors, etc. look in your home—not to mention the added value when compared with other surfaces.

Use a top quality penetrating sealer like STONETECH Bulletproof to protect your investment.

Do: Blot up spills immediately.
Travertine is much more sensitive than granite to acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce, sodas, toiletry products and cleaning products that can etch(dull) the polish(shine) or stain the surface.

Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth.
The only cleaning agents you should use on a regular basis are hot water and a specially formulated stone cleaner/sealer. I recommend STONETECH Revitalizer. Buff dry with a cotton cloth or chamois. Using a mild soap occasionally (3-4 times a year) for cleaning travertine won't harm the stone, but consistent use will dull the surface.

Do: Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans.
Bottles, cans and glasses … even water … can leave a ring and many common foods and drinks contain acids that may etch the polish or damage the surface.

So make cleaning travertine easy and avoid expensive marble polishing and marble restoration by treating your travertine surfaces like fine wood furniture. Always use coasters ...no matter what.

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

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

Tip: Travertine polishing on floor tile makes a very slick surface so go with a "honed," "tumbled" or "flamed" floor tile. It will look warm and inviting and hide dust, dirt and stains very well.

Also, travertine's distinctive voids and holes can easily be filled upon installation to keep dirt from accumulating.

Do: Use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs.
Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch travertine floor tile.

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

It won't happen right away and trying to save money by using cheap, generic surface cleaners only ensures that you'll spend a lot more time and money on your travertine care in the long-run performing expensive repairs or travertine restoration.

Don't: Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange for cleaning travertine. As noted above, a sponge with hot water is all you need on a daily basis and a stone cleaner/sealer weekly.

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

Don't: Sit or stand on your countertops.
Unlike laminate countertops, travertine countertops are not flexible and they DO NOT have a plywood backing so too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.

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

I know it seems like there is a lot to do and know about cleaning travertine, but if you think about it most of the Do's and Don'ts are things you already do and don't do! And the new tips you've learned about how to clean travertine are really very easy.

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

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

Just keep in mind that marble has stood the test of time and it is meant to be used. So with just a little TLC, you'll enjoy its beauty for years.

Source:http://www.countertopspecialty.com