Keeping Travertine Tile Clean

Travertine tile is an incredibly popular tile choice for many homeowners, both because of its durability and its gorgeous color and texture features. This tile can be applied to almost any room in your house, commonly found in flooring, kitchen countertops, showers, and even backsplashes. No matter where your travertine tile is installed, keeping it clean is always a high priority. While this tile is loved for its simple natural looks, the same features that give it its characteristic “look” give it a propensity for collecting dirt and grime. Here we’ll talk about the features of travertine tile and how you can keep it clean.

Travertine

Travertine is a type of limestone often found in cream, white, and tan colors. This unique stone has holes in its surface, which gives it that characteristic pitted look. While beautiful, this feature also provides plenty of space for dirt and germs to accumulate, making regular cleaning necessary. In some cases, the tile might have these holes filled in with grout – it just depends on your own personal tastes and where the tile is installed.

Special Considerations

• Polish. If cleaned improperly, you can actually dull your travertine tile. This tile is often polished when installed, especially on countertops, and using improper cleaners can dull that shine.
• Etching. Travertine, while durable, can be scratched if dirt and grime are allowed to accumulate.
• Porosity. Like many types of stone, this tile is porous and will absorb liquids. If those liquids are colored, staining can occur. This makes it very important to select the proper types of cleaning liquids, and to properly seal the tile so that unwanted absorption does not occur.

Cleaning for Different Types of Travertine

• Tumbled Travertine Stones. If your tile has a rough, unfinished texture, then you know that you have tumbled travertine stones. This type of tile is rather durable and forgiving when it comes to cleaning.
• Polished Travertine Stones. This type of tile has a gorgeous shine, but is especially delicate, as any scratches on the polished surface open up the tile to infiltration by dirt and grime. You will often find polished travertine stone surfaces on countertops or as part of furniture pieces.

Whatever the type of travertine tile, use only natural stone cleaners when cleaning your tile – these cleaners don’t have acidic solutions or abrasive chemicals that can seep into your tile’s pores and internally damage the stone. You also don’t want to use soap at all, because it leaves behind unsightly streaks and a dried film that can actually attract dust and germs!

Also make sure that, before applying any cleaning solutions at all, you always wipe clean any loose dirt and debris from the surface of the tile. This prevents you from accidentally scratching the tile while attempting to clean it. And when you’re done cleaning, make sure to wipe down the surface with a microfiber material to remove any excess liquid and add a final polish.

When to Involve a Professional

While regular maintenance will do wonders to prolong the look and lifespan of your travertine tile, professional cleanings are needed in many cases. If you have polished travertine tile, which is especially susceptible to damage and staining, it would be wise to involve professional tile cleaners when a deep cleaning is needed. A professional will be knowledgeable on which cleaners to use on this delicate stone, and have the proper equipment to obtain a deep clean without etching or scratching the tile.

If you already have etches or scratches, the only solution is involving a professional. Stone cleaners can grind down the tiles surface in order to remove any unintentional scratches. They can also help with sealing or re-sealing the surface to prevent further damage. If you have any questions about caring for your travertine, feel free to contact us – we specialize in all types of tile cleaning and can make sure your travertine tile is clean, sealed, and durable for years to come.