Hi Sally,

You're totally correct, travertine tiles are porous, however, they are extremely durable and a beautiful asset in any home.

And yes, travertine tiles require regular cleaning as this stone has tiny craters that collect dust and dirt. That is why we recommend using a pH neutral cleaner.

To keep travertine tiles in top condition consider the following:

Once a fortnight:

• Vacuum: Vacuum your travertine surface to remove dust and grit. Avoid using a vacuum that has wheels prone to scratching.
• Scrub: Following a vacuum, apply a non acidic solution, and scrub using a soft brush or broom.
• Damp clean: Using a microfibre mop or a cloth dampened with warm water, wipe over the surface of your tiles with some pressure.
• Dry: Travertine should not be left to dry naturally. A dry mop or clean towel should be used to soak up any excess moisture.
• Rinse: Using clean, warm water, rinse the surface before drying with a towel once more.

Once a Year:

• Water test: Spill a few drops of water on your stone and let it set for approximately 10-30 minutes. Dry it off, and if you notice any darkening where the water had been, it means your tiles need resealing.

Tips & Tricks:

• Use a soft cloth: A good quality microfibre cloth dampened with warm water is all that’s required for safe, effective cleaning.
• Use coasters: Avoid ring marks from acidic drinks by always protecting the surface
• Never use anything but a natural stone cleaner: Warm water and stone cleaner are the only things that should ever be used to clean travertine.
• Avoid acidic products: Avoiding bleach, acid-based, or abrasive products that could damage this naturally porous stone is a must.

The ongoing maintenance isn't overly expensive as it can all be done using producsts from your local homeware store. However if you want the help of trained professionals Megasealed have bathroom tiling solutions including natural stone cleaning. Get a free quote today or call us on 1300 658 007.

Natural Travetine and natural stone, require sealing prior to tiler laying, to keep grout from travetine.. Cheaper travetine have a great deal of " filling " the tiler needs to select the tiles to use, can be a lot of waste....