Maintaining Your Travertine Tile Floor: When And How To Clean
Posted on: 6 April 2015
Travertine tiles add beauty and value to many kitchens and bathrooms. Travertine is a natural material that is sensitive to harsh cleaning products. In many cases, mild detergents and soaps made from natural ingredients are the best cleaning products for your travertine tiles. These tips will help you maintain your tiles using methods that are safe for your stone.
Dry Mop Daily
Dry mop and sweep your travertine tile floor on a daily basis. Dry mopping ensures that dust bunnies, grit and dirt is removed before it can become wet, resulting in stains on the tile or grout.
Wet Wash Weekly
Wet wash your travertine tile on a weekly basis after dry mopping the floor. Never wet wash your floors before dry mopping. Wash your travertine tile with castile soap mixed with warm water.
It's important to use a rag mop to wet wash your travertine tile floors, instead of a hard bristle brush. Never use acidic or corrosive cleaners like vinegar, lemon juice or bleach. These products can etch or damage your tiles, resulting in untreatable stains.
Wipe Up Spills and Spot Treat As Needed
You may dry mop your travertine tiles religiously, but spots will still occur from time to time. If you can catch a spill before it soaks into the tile, this will prevent stains from occurring. When wiping up a spill, use a dry rag to blot up the liquid. Don't rub the liquid into the tile, as this can cause the tile to stain. Take pains to blot up spills from acidic liquids (line red wine and orange juice) immediately. This will prevent the acidic liquid from etching the stone.
If your tiles do become stained, use a poultice to absorb the stain from the tile. You can make a poultice at home by mixing baking soda and water together to form a thick paste. Spread the paste over the stain, then leave the paste in place until the liquid in the poultice has been entirely absorbed. Wipe away the remaining powder. If the stain is still there, reapply the poultice.
Seek Commercial Cleaning Annually
Over time, the grout between your travertine tiles will become stained and dark. Seek commercial cleaning services like Metro Cleaning Service Inc annually to clean the grout and keep your floors looking their best. By getting professional care for your grout, you'll ensure that the cleaning products used are both effective and safe for the travertine stones.
Share