Cleaning travertine (hardwood floor, countertops, new house)

[Nht8134]

Hello all. Not sure if this belongs in this forum but I just moved into this new house and its been laid with a lot of travertine including kitchen floors and master shower. I know travertine is not easy to clean and great care should be taken. Ive already taken the first step and sealed all travertine surfaces with a quality sealer.

Can someone recommend a good product that is made specifically for travertine or natural stone that is safe to use on a weekly basis? THanks!

[Beto]

Is it honed and unfinished Travertine in the kitchen? You can use basic soap and warm water to clean the Travertine. Be sure not to use any abrasive cleaning products, since this can damage the natural stone ruin the overall finish that is on it to protect it. I sue MB-1 Stone Cleanear by MB Stone Care and it works pretty well.

[Houston_2010]

My travertine guy recommended DuPont, Stone Tech KlenzAll and Revitalizer & Protector. I order through their website, but a friend found them at ACE Hardware. They are good product and the big gallon lasts a long time. The Revitalizer & Cleaner you can also use for granite countertops.

[DavidAg02]

Avoid harsh chemicals. Use a steam cleaner instead.

[EasilyAmused]

Steam cleaner..and a have a professional come out ever 6 months to go after the grout.
It only takes having travertine once to make you a diehard wood floor fan.

[Nht8134]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Steam cleaner..and a have a professional come out ever 6 months to go after the grout.
It only takes having travertine once to make you a diehard wood floor fan.

Just wanted to understand your statement. My new house also has hardwood floor and I find the travertine much more durable and easier to clean. Im EXTREMELY careful around the hardwood floor as opposed to the travertine I do whatever I want around it. Although wood floor looks awesome, it is extremely hard to care for.

You guys mentioned steam cleaner but being that my travertine is sealed, wont the steam cleaner strip and wear down the sealer quicker?

[Houston_2010]

Originally Posted by Nht8134

You guys mentioned steam cleaner but being that my travertine is sealed, wont the steam cleaner strip and wear down the sealer quicker?

Yes! Don't use steam cleaners. I actually got the same advice when I moved to my house from someone. And the travertine guy told me not to use it b/c it would strip away the sealed protectant.

[EasilyAmused]

To the OP

You have to put sealant on every few years, in my experience, regardless of what you clean it with. Ace Hardware has some very safe floor products for the stone.

Yes, I find wood floors easier. My 60 year old wood floors have probably been restained and refurbished 3-4 times over those 60 years. Cleaning is a Swiffer and once a week with the hardwood floor cleaning kit, which is basically a spray and a terry cloth sham. No mopping!

I mistakenly put a high grade travertine in the kitchen 4 years ago, it already been resealed, and I have pros come out every 6 months. The grout situation is just gross, with kids, dogs, pool water and foot traffic. The 60 year old wood looks better than the 4 year old travertine. Most likely will pull it out after Christmas and put walnut in there as well. I've had wood floors in every house I've owned, and to me they are super easy.

JMHO.

[testmo]

I have travertine in the bathrooms and just sweep it/spot clean with warm water... seems to be just fine since day one. doing it wrong?

[Nht8134]

Can you recommend a product that have worked for you?