We have had plenty of customers who were ready to tear up their tumbled travertine flooring because they just could not get it clean.

It is a story we hear often of how the tiles looked so beautiful in the store and even better when they were laid, justifying the significant cost of the flooring. However after just a short time the floor started to get dirty and soon becomes impossible to clean.

How To Deep Clean Travertine Floors

The honeycomb structure of Travertine and the nature of the grout lines means that your Travertine floor will probably need deep cleaning every year or every couple of years. Deep cleaning will also help to remove staining from the tiles and grout lines.

Travertine cleaning is a task a homeowner can undertake with the right materials and equipment.

Equipment:

Cleaning Travertine Tiles

Carefully dry vacuum the floor to remove all dry soil loose dirt and grit. 

Please don't skip this step, because if the soil and grit mix with the cleaner, it can turn into a cutting paste.

Make up a bucket of cleaning solution using the strong cleaner and warm water according to the manufacturer's instructions.

If your floor has worn topical sealer, you may need to remove the old sealer with a sealer removing cleaner. 

The sealer remover will also act as a strong floor cleaner.

Clean manageable areas, between 4 and 8 square metres of floor. 

Mopping Travertine Tiles

Mop the cleaner over a manageable area of the floor, mopping well into the surface of the tiles and the grout.

Leave the cleaner to work for 5 to 10 minutes. During this time, keep the floor wet, do not let it dry out.

Scrubbing Travertine Tiles

Scrub the floor with the deck brush and hand brush, making sure to work the cleaner into the tiles holes and grout lines to remove any buildup of dirt.

Remove the dirty water and slurry with the mop, or a wet vacuum will be much easier.

Rinsing Travertine Tiles

Rinse the area with clean warm water.

Once the rinse water gets dirty, replace it with clean fresh water.

If you want the floor to dry quickly, you can towel off the floor with a clean, dry towel or absorbent soft cloth.

Treating Grout Stains On Travertine

If you have staining in the grout lines, you may need to use a small amount of acid grout cleaner. 

Be careful not to get the grout cleaner on the tiles, because the acid will damage the surface of your travertine

Repeat the travertine cleaning until the floor is as clean as you can get it.

Then move onto the next area of the floor.

Resealing Your Travertine Floor

Once the floor has been deep cleaned to your satisfaction, you will need to reseal the floor, using an impregnating stone sealer, a topical stone sealer or an impregnating stone sealer followed by a wax coating.

Regular Maintenance - How To Clean Travertine floors

Regular travertine cleaning is different to deep cleaning in both the cleaning chemicals and equipment.

Equipment for Regular Cleaning

How To Clean Travertine Tile And Grout

Carefully dry vacuum the floor to remove all loose dirt particles and grit.

Please don't skip this step, because if the soil and grit mix with the cleaner, it can turn into a cutting paste.

Make up a solution of the ph Neutral Travertine cleaner and warm water, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

If you use a flat mop, dampen the mop with some plain water.


7 Expert Tips To Keep Your Travertine Clean

If you’re looking for help with cleaning travertine tiles, these expert tips will help you to keep your Travertine floors clean

1.Know Your Stone

One of the most important tips to help you keep your floor looking like new is to educate yourself about the characteristics of a Travertine floor.

Here are some simple characteristics of Travertine tile products that you need to be aware of.

2. Choose The Right Stone Cleaner

Before you start cleaning your Travertine floor tiles, make sure you have the correct cleaner for the job. Different stones need different cleaning products.

A cleaner that will work well on a slate floor could cause irreversible damage to a Travertine floor.

Once you know that Travertine is formed from calcium, you can choose the right cleaner for the cleaning you are doing.

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.

If you need a stronger cleaner for stubborn or ingrained dirt, then chose the right cleaning product for the stone. Also, make sure to rinse the floor with clean water after using a strong cleaner.

Don't use Acid cleaners on Travertine, because the acid will dissolve the surface, leaving dull, ugly etch marks.

With this information, you will be able to clean your Travertine without causing damage.

3. Dry Sweep or Vacuum the Travertine

Over 80% of the soil in a home is dry soil, containing dust, dander, grit etc.  Dirt will damage your stone and the sealer. And polishedfloors, in particular, suffer from scratching. The best way to prevent damage from dry soil is by dry sweeping yourfloorat least once per day.  If you have pets and or small children, then you may need to dry mop two or three times a day. Modern microfiber sweeping mops are low cost, light-weight and easy to use

4. Use A Microfiber Damp Mop

With modern microfiber mops, there is no need to use a mop and bucket on your stone floors.  Old style cotton mops are unhygienic and inefficient. They leave most of the soil on the surface of the floor.  They are one of the main causes of dirty grout lines.

Microfiber mops work in a different way from cotton mops. They pick the damp soil from the stone and trap it in the fibres.  Dirty mop heads are machine washed, rather than squeezed, so they are much more hygienic. Microfiber mops are available online, in most supermarkets and DIY outlets.

5. Protected Your Travertine With A Travertine Sealer

“Do we need to seal our travertine?” is one of the most common questions we get. Our answer is that sealing is essential for all forms of Travertine. Modern stone sealers can be grouped into three broad types.

Topical sealers

Topical Sealers sit on the surface of the travertine. They will change the finish on the tiles, giving dull tiles a sheen or a gloss finish. They can alter the slip resistance, especially when wet. Being on the surface of the stone, they will eventually show wear, especially in high traffic areas

Impregnating Sealers

Impregnating or penetrating sealers soak through the capillaries deep into the surface of the travertine. They change the surface tension of the stone, repelling water and oil spills. With this kind of sealer, the stone acts as the wear layer. Manufacturers often say they have a life of 10 to 15 years. This may be true for the bit of sealer that has soaked deep into the stone, but the areas of sealer near the surface will be degraded by traffic and chemical attack. That is why they should be topped up annually, to maintain the levels of protection. Thankfully applying the sealer is a simple task of applying with a cloth and then wiping away any surface residue. So it is an easy job.

Waxing

Wax is the original sealer.  Modern waxes offer a hard-wearing finish that can be easily maintained. Modern Impregnating and Topical sealers are the more popular finish, but a Wax finish will give you years of life is maintained properly.

6. Prevent Soil Coming Onto The Floor And Other Forms Of Damage

7. Seek The Advice Of Travertine Cleaning Experts

Over time, the once radiant polish of your floor may gradually lose its luster, with the sealer wearing thin, grout accumulating dirt, and soil embedding itself into the surface. It's at this point that many people turn to the expertise of a stone restoration company. However, waiting this long is not ideal.

Instead, it's wise to be proactive and connect with a stone restoration company as soon as your floor is laid. By doing so, you can ensure that your floor receives the proper care and maintenance from the very beginning, preserving its beauty and extending its life for years to come. Don't wait for signs of wear to appear; take action early and experience the benefits of a well-maintained, stunning floor.

Travertine cleaning experts can provide invaluable guidance on maintaining your stone floor's beauty and longevity. In many ways, a stone floor is similar to a car; regular servicing is crucial to keep it in optimal condition, ensuring it lasts for years to come. People often adhere to the manufacturer's schedule when it comes to servicing their cars, but they seldom consider applying the same care and attention to their stone floors.

By seeking advice from travertine cleaning professionals, you can establish a maintenance routine that keeps your floor in top-notch shape, just as regular car servicing helps maintain your vehicle. This investment in preventative care will not only enhance the appearance of your floor but also extend its lifespan, allowing you to enjoy its beauty for years to come.

A polished Travertine floor does not need to be completely dull before it is re-polished.  A Travertine sealer need not be completely worn away before being re-sealed. Your floor will last longer and you will save money if you schedule a visit with a local stone floor restoration company.

Interim deep cleaning and polishing or sealing will make the finish last much longer. It is also cheaper, with less upheaval than a full restoration Your restoration expert will give you advice on aftercare cleaning They can also keep you up-to-date with the latest money-saving developments.

If you would like helpful advice about your stone floor contact us. we are more than happy to help.