Travertine Tile Source

Travertine tile is a natural stone material that gives a distinguished and classic look to any room in the house. While stone floors and surfaces may enhance a home’s aesthetic value, such materials are inherently difficult to maintain and clean. Travertine, in particular, is characterized my numerous small air pockets and veins, and this makes it difficult to install because it is easily damaged in the process. Uneven tiles must be replaced. Polishing is one way to maintain shiny travertine tiles, but this process is time consuming and involves expensive equipment. It is not practical to polish all the time.

When cleaning this type of surface, special care must be taken because of the stone’s fragile nature. This natural stone surface is especially susceptible to etching when it comes in contact with acidic solutions. Etching can significantly damage the appearance of the tile, so it is important to clean up spills expediently, especially if red wine or another acid-rich liquid makes contact with this material.

There are other maintenance tasks that must be performed before even thinking about travertine cleaning. It is important to dust mop this flooring frequently, and coasters should always be used on travertine counter-tops and tables. This material should be sealed before cleaning and it is a good idea to regularly repeat this step. Sealing has nothing to do with preventing etching, but it will help with staining issues.

Once it becomes time to clean this flooring, there is no need to worry. It is simply a matter of apply and wipe. Here are a few tips for cleaning travertine, wherever it may be in the home.

Make sure to use specially designed stone cleaners. Read all the directions to make sure a particular stone cleaner is safe to use on this particular stone surface. Never use regular cleaning agents or vinegar as both are highly acidic, and it will only take a few accidental applications to cause permanent damage. Besides special cleaners, the only other thing one will need for travertine cleaning is hot water.

Take care after mopping these floors. Once the mopping or scrubbing is complete, it is very important to dry the tile immediately. This will help prevent staining. A wet stone floor is a safety issue; so quick drying will also prevent potential accidents due to moist floors.

There really is not much more to actually cleaning travertine tile. Maintaining this material is more about upkeep then actual scrubbing and mopping. It also helps to use mats and rugs in high-traffic areas if there is travertine flooring because the sand and dirt on shoes can scratch this stone over time. Despite all the care that one must take with respect to cleaning and maintaining travertine, it is all worth it as there are very few materials that can enhance the look of a home’s interior like natural stone. The extra time and effort put in caring for this material becomes worthwhile it every time someone marvels at the beautiful stone surfaces in your home.