How to clean travertine flooring

What is travertine flooring?

Travertine floors are made of natural stone that develops around specific areas such as limestone caves or hot springs. These floors give your home a special and unusual look, as they allow you to achieve an earthy feel. If you have recently installed them in your house, then you may be wondering how to clean travertine flooring. This article will give you the tips and tricks you need so that you will know how to care for travertine floors.

How to clean travertine flooring

Travertine is a natural stone that is easy to clean, however, because of the pores that it possesses, it can be quite sensitive. The following are the best methods that should be followed when caring for travertine floors:

• Stay away from harsh chemicals

Travertine floors are susceptible to soaking in chemicals. Therefore, cleaning these floors using chemicals such as ammonia or bleach may cause damage, as well as dull your floors. Be sure to test travertine with a cleaner on a small spot to ensure the product is safe for your floors.

• Use pH-neutral cleaners

Because travertine is a natural stone, a pH cleaner that is neutral must be used so that it is safer for your floors.

• Utilize dish soap sometimes

Dish soap is not as abrasive as other cleaners; however, it should be used only a few times per year. Dish soap mixed with warm water can also be utilized for deep cleaning travertine floors as this will not cause any damage or discoloration to your floors.

• Use a damp mop

Using a wet mop can cause water to enter your floors which can then cause damage. Therefore, it is recommended that you use a damp mop instead to clean your floors.

Can you use vinegar on travertine?

Vinegar should not be utilized on travertine floors as this contains acid that can dull your floors. Likewise, citrus such as lemons should not be used as well as this also contains acid.

How to clean travertine floors naturally?

Regular sweeping and mopping allow the natural beauty of travertine floors to shine. Nonetheless, if you want to clean travertine floors naturally, make sure you avoid the use of acidic cleaners and choose mild, pH-neutral cleaners mixed with warm water instead.

How to clean travertine grout lines?

Travertine floors contain grout lines that help prevent them from touching each other that may cause the tile to split. However, they are prone to stains, dulling, water damage, as well as mold.

Grout lines can be cleaned using a baking soda and warm water mixture to create a paste. Simply scrub this into the grout lines using a specific brush meant for grout lines. Make sure that you are only scrubbing the grout lines and not the actual tile, as this could cause damage to your floors. Finally, avoid using grout cleaners sold commercially as this uses a form of bleach that can cause harm to travertine floors.

Can you steam clean travertine floors?

Steam cleaning travertine floors are safe if you use the steam mop properly. When using a steam mop, make sure you do not stay in the same spot for more than 10 seconds as this could damage the grout lines and potentially the grip of your travertine floor tiles.

How to polish travertine floors?

Before going on to polish, make sure you deep clean, as well as steam clean your floors first to make sure that any dirt or grime is removed. Doing this can also remove any light scratches or stains from your floors.

Once you are done with this, make sure to fill any cracks or holes on your floors by using epoxy or grout of the same color as the travertine.

Tape any furniture or any surfaces afterward so that it is protected during the polishing process.

Once you have done all these steps, you may now move on to polishing your floors. Polishing travertine floors requires you to use a weighted buffing machine. Two methods can be done – the first one is by using various grit pads and the second one is by using a polishing powder. You can decide how much shine you want on your floors, however, know that the more grit or the more you use the polishing powder, the shinier your floors will be.

Travertine flooring maintenance

Unlike wood floors or carpets, travertine floors are much easier to maintain as they do not hold on to dust. However, the following must still be done regularly to make sure your floors last.

• Sweeping

Dust can make your floors look dull, therefore, using a broom with soft bristles or dust mop can help your floors look clean. You can also use a vacuum, however, make sure you find a vacuum cleaner with settings for hard floors.

• Mopping

Mopping your floors weekly can restore the surface of your floors by removing any dirt or spots. Make sure you use a gentle travertine floor cleaner and a damp mop so that your floors keep their natural appeal for a long time.

• Clean spills immediately

In case you spill a liquid on your floors, make sure you clean this immediately as this can cause a stain. If a stain remains, you may make use of stain remover to eliminate it, however, make sure you buy one that is specific to the type of stain, as well as one that is safe for travertine floors.

• Rugs and carpets

Rugs and carpets are a great way of protecting your floors against any scratches. These should be placed in areas with the most traffic such as living rooms or bedrooms.

Travertine floors are a popular flooring choice that is most known for their durability, beauty, and water resistance. Along with that, travertine floors are versatile as they can be used as countertops, walls, or even sink basins. They are also easy to maintain. I hope that this article was able to give you tips on how to maintain your floors, as well as answer your questions on how to clean travertine flooring.

Image credit: kleanstone.com