Keeping your travertine clean

Travertine, a variety of limestone known for distinctive swirls and textures, is a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. All stone, whether you know it or not, is riddled with small, naturally-formed pores that are prone to collecting soap scum. But with routine cleaning and maintenance (and definitely some regular sealing), keeping your travertine surfaces looking great is no trouble at all.

Keep your travertine clean with these seven Stone Care Expert-approved tips:

1. Clean your shower after using it
The running water of your shower helps to loosen and soften surface dirt on your tiles, making cleaning much easier than if you were to try cleaning dry surfaces. Using a squeegee is an easy way to keep things under control between cleanings, and can even extend time between cleanings.
2. Use non-acidic soap scum remover
Just like all limestones, travertine is sensitive to acids. So, it is important to remember to use a non-acidic stone cleaner like MARBLELIFE® Soap Scum Remover or MARBLELIFE®Marble & Travertine InterCare Cleaner. These are gentle enough for day-to-day cleaning and strong enough to remove oils and other deposits, without leaving behind waxes or harsh chemicals that can etch your stone.
3. Use warm water
Use a bucket filled with warm water and begin scrubbing the tiles starting from the top to prevent dirty water from falling over just-cleaned areas.
4. Soft toothbrushes are great for grout
MARBLELIFE® Soap Scum Remover can be used on soap covered grout as well for a quick and efficient clean. Once you can see your true grout surface again, we can assess what is needed next. 
5. A razor blade for hard water stains
A razor blade can smoothly run between the calcium deposited by your hard water and the stone without scratching, but be careful. It is still a razor blade. Once free-and-clear, call your local water service company to discuss installing a water softener or filter to remove your rust and calcium impurities, or this situation will need to be addressed routinely. 
6. Rinse
After you’ve finished cleaning your tiles, turn on the shower and rinse thoroughly with warm water, ensuring no soapy suds are left behind. 
7. Allow to dry completely
The first defense against mold and mildew is sufficient airflow to allow your shower to dry. This may mean installing an exhaust fan or increasing its airflow, open doors, or adding additional fans. But unless the shower can dry out between uses, mold will find a happy home. 

For any other questions regarding maintenance and care for your travertine shower, contact your local MARBLELIFE office and a knowledgeable stone craftsman will be happy to assist you.