Knowledge base
Maintaining travertine: sealing, cleaning and stains
Updated · 5 min read
You maintain travertine in three steps: seal after installation (then yearly outdoors, every two to three years indoors), clean with water and a pH-neutral stone soap, and never use acid or chlorine directly on the stone. With this routine a travertine floor stays beautiful for decades.
Why does travertine need sealing?
Travertine is slightly porous. A sealer (impregnator) penetrates the pores and makes the stone water- and grease-repellent without changing its colour or appearance. Oil, wine, sunscreen and pool water then get no chance to soak in. Sealing is the most important maintenance step, especially in Curaçao's climate.
How do I seal travertine?
- Wait until the floor and joints are completely dry (at least a week after installation).
- Clean the floor and let it dry.
- Apply a natural stone sealer (water- or solvent-based) thinly with a roller or cloth.
- Remove excess sealer after 10–15 minutes with a dry cloth; allow 24 hours before using or wetting the floor.
- Test: a drop of water should bead up. If it soaks in, it is time to repeat.
How do I clean travertine?
Daily: sweep or vacuum to remove sand; sand acts like sandpaper. Weekly: mop with lukewarm water and a pH-neutral natural stone soap. Outdoors: rinse with the garden hose and use a soft brush on deposits. Do not use a steam cleaner on filled travertine and no pressure washer close to the stone.
What should I never use on travertine?
- Acids: vinegar, lemon, descaler, hydrochloric acid, many toilet and bathroom cleaners. They etch the limestone dull.
- Chlorine and bleach directly on the stone.
- Abrasives and scouring pads.
- All-purpose cleaners with soap-based degreasers (they leave a film).
How do I remove stains from travertine?
| Stain | Approach |
|---|---|
| Oil, grease, sunscreen | Dab immediately; then a natural stone degreaser or a poultice (paste of absorbent powder) left on for 24 hours |
| Wine, coffee, fruit juice | Rinse quickly; stubborn: natural stone cleaner with oxygen bleach, never chlorine |
| Rust (garden furniture, pots) | Rust remover made for natural stone; acid-free |
| Algae, green deposits | Natural stone algae cleaner and a soft brush; then re-seal |
| Lime haze after installation | Cement haze remover for limestone (acid-free), following the packaging |
| Dull patches from acid | Small patches: polishing powder for marble; larger: have it professionally re-honed |
Care in Curaçao's climate
Sun, sea air and the rainy season call for a fixed rhythm: seal outdoor floors and pool coping every year (for example before the rainy season), rinse off salt and sunscreen regularly and keep the joints intact. Indoor floors only need sealing every two to three years. With an unfilled indoor floor you can consider filling the pores after all; that makes mopping easier.
