Professional Stone Cleaning and Your Floor Part 2

Part two of our series on stone cleaning explores travertine.

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How to Clean Travertine: An Insider's Guide

If you would like to know how to clean travertine, here is some information for you.  First off, know that travertine is a lot more sensitive than a stone such as granite, particularly to anything acidic.  To avoid etching your floor, make sure that you blot up spills immediately.  Even tap water may have trace amounts of chlorine in it, which is very bad.  Make sure that you blot, don't wipe.  A lot of people instinctively wipe a spill instead of blotting it.  Wiping the spill simply spreads it around.  

When you're blotting, make sure that you use either a soft cloth or a sponge.  Use hot water and a stone cleaner and stone sealer that is specifically designed for travertine.  You may also want to keep your travertine products separate from other cleaning products to avoid any mishaps, and make sure you clearly label them with something as simple as TRAVERTINE CLEANING ONLY.  While it is possible to use a pH neutral soap such as dishwashing detergent periodically, be aware that while it won't damage your stone, it will dull its finish.  

Another thing that you can do with your travertine is to use a dust mop on it at least once a week.  Make sure that your dustmop gets replaced when it starts to get worn, or you could end up scratching your stone.  Door mats, like with hardwood floors, are a good idea as they help to trap grit, dirt, and sand.  

What to Avoid When You Want to Clean Your Stone

Knowing what to avoid can also save you a lot of trouble where travertine cleaning is concerned.  First off, don't ever  use any store bought or generic products as these produces often contain acids, ammonia, or alkali, with can not only etch your stone, it can strip away any protective coatings and make your stone susceptible  to staining and damage.  You also don't want to use anything citrus based or anything like vinegar.  You also don't want use anything abrasive either as these will dull the finish of your travertine.  

So remember, taking care of your travertine is all about not only knowing what to do, but what not to do as well.  And when in doubt, call a travertine cleaning service.

Travertine is only type of stone that needs specialized care, another one is marble...

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Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com

Professional Stone Cleaning and Your Floor Part 1

Before you try to do any sort of stone cleaning, there are several things you need to know.  Let's look at travertine for example.  

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Travertine Cleaning and Hiring a Pro

Travertine should always be done by a professional stone cleaning service, unless you are 100% sure that you know how to handle travertine.  The reason is that travertine is a surprisingly fragile stone particularly were exposure to certain things is concerned. Travertine is a calcium-based natural stone in the same family as marble and limestone. It is formed when deposits of calcium carbonate congeal. One of the traits of travertine are the many holes and gaps in the stone which form when carbon dioxide escapes during the formation process. Travertine is graded based on the amount of holes in the stone. The more holes there are, the lower the grade of travertine you have. However, whether low-grade travertine or high grade, these holes give travertine its distinctive texture but they also make travertine more porous. These pores make travertine also more prone to staining. Some stains are worse than others however.

For example if you spill anything acidic on travertine such as coffee, orange juice, red wine, or vinegar for a few examples, you also have a good chance of damaging your stone. And if you think this problem is confined to what you spill, sometimes the wrong cleaning solution can damage your travertine as well. To make matters worse, wet mopping your floor may also cause long term damage as well.

Travertine Care and Cleaning

A stone cleaning service knows how to clean travertine, however. They also know what not to do as well. First off the stone is gently cleaned and then it is sealed.  Stone sealer seeps into all the pores and helps to protect your stone from further stains as well as damage.  Stone sealer is a relatively modern invention that works very well and lasts at least five years, sometimes as more as a decade.  Another reason to contact a professional for your travertine cleaning is that he can give you some tips to help keep your travertine looking its best between visits.

Travertine is a beautiful addition to any home, but if you're not careful, you could end up damaging your stone...

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Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com