Everyday cleaning
- Sweep or dust-mop floors a few times a week. Grit acts like sandpaper on a honed or polished finish.
- Damp-mop with warm water and a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth or microfiber mop to prevent streaks.
- Wipe spills right away, especially wine, coffee, juice, oil and anything acidic.
Cleaners to avoid
- Travertine is a calcium-based stone, so acids etch it. Avoid vinegar, lemon, citrus cleaners, and bathroom or tile cleaners containing acids.
- Skip bleach and ammonia for routine cleaning, and never use abrasive powders, scouring pads or wire brushes.
- Do not mix cleaning chemicals. When in doubt, test on a spare tile or a hidden corner first.
Pool decks, patios and pavers
- Hose or blow off leaves and debris regularly so tannins don't stain the stone.
- Scrub with a soft-bristle brush and a stone-safe outdoor cleaner, then rinse well.
- If you pressure wash, use a low setting and a wide fan tip held well back from the surface to avoid damaging tumbled or filled stone.
- Rinse splash-out from pool water often; chlorine and salt left to dry can leave residue on coping and decking.
Stain removal
- Oil and grease: apply a poultice made of baking soda and water (or a commercial stone poultice), cover with plastic, let it sit 24–48 hours, then remove and rinse.
- Organic stains (leaves, coffee, tea): outdoors these often fade with sun and rain. Indoors, a poultice with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide can lift them on light-colored stone — test first.
- Rust and hard-water marks: use a cleaner made specifically for natural stone. Standard rust removers are usually acidic and will etch travertine.
- Etch marks (dull spots) are surface damage, not stains. Light etching on honed stone can be refinished; deeper marks may need a stone restoration professional.
How often to seal travertine
- Seal after installation with a penetrating (impregnating) sealer made for natural stone.
- As a general rule, reseal interior floors every 1–3 years and exterior pool decks and patios every 1–2 years, depending on traffic and exposure.
- Water test: sprinkle a few drops on the stone. If they soak in and darken it within a few minutes, it's time to reseal.
- Always follow the sealer manufacturer's directions for application and cure time.
Questions about your stone?
Visit our Gonzales showroom or call 225.647.TILE and we'll help you choose the right finish and care plan for your project.