subject: How To Maintain Travertine Counter Tops [print this page] . Proper cleansing and regular professional examinations, coupled with professional resealings, are crucial for the lasting maintenance of your countertops.
The first and most critical item to adequately maintaining your countertops is quickly wiping up spills. Immediately, spills should be wiped up. This is extremely important when you are dealing with acidic fluid (for example, grapefruit juice). Travertines majesty is quickly eaten away by acid. This property, along with its porousness which permits diffusion of fluids, makes wiping spills important. Its porousness can also create a material which can be easily stained. Any red liquid, like wine, can stain the stone very quickly. Therefore, wiping spills is important for long term care of travertine countertops.
A different piece of your maintenance plan must be regular cleaning. The material should be cleansed once a week at least. Wipe down your countertop with a soft cloth or sponge to remove any large dirt particles or dust that has accumulated. Since travertine is a very soft stone, sand can scratch the surface. Gently wipe the material with a cushy cloth or sponge. Once you have completed the dusting, wipe down with a clean sponge or cloth damp with hot water. The objective must be to eliminate any caked on food or liquids. You should then employ a cleaner made specifically for travertine and countertop stone. These are cleaners that dont use vinegar, ammonia, citrus, bleach or any other brutal chemicals. Be sure to read and understand the labels before you use any cleaner to ensure it is created for travertine in addition to not being acidic.
Once per year, a countertop professional should inspect your travertine countertops. The countertop professional should provide you with all potential concerns and solutions for all concerns. Resealing may also be advised. Resealing is when a protective coating is added to keep all harmful chemicals away from the stone itself.
