Recently, travertine showers have been in great demand. It is distinguished by original patterns and unusual textures that immediately attract attention. However, due to the porosity, such tiles quickly get dirty and accumulate foam. Many people think about cleaning your travertine tile showers.
What is travertine?
Before proceeding to the study of the question, of how to clean a travertine tile shower, you should familiarize yourself with the features of the material. Travertine is a stone often found in hot springs and limestone caves.
It is the optimal stone for creating original shower floors. However, it is important to understand that they have been cleaned periodically.
Causes of travertine pollution
Often on the surface of travertine, you can see stains from soap scum and mold. This is because the material has an uneven and porous structure that can hold water. It is not uncommon for routine cleaning to miss such contaminants, leading to major problems.
What cannot be used on travertine?
Quite often people ask the question, what should you not use on travertine tile? Natural stone is durable; however, it cannot be called delicate. Therefore, you need to use products with a neutral pH of 7 or less. Do not use bleach or ammonia.
Otherwise, the surface becomes dull, and the travertine tile is damaged faster. In this case, you risk increasing the porosity of the surface, and it is more contaminated. Do not use vinegar, as it is an acid that can damage the surface. The travertine shower tiles are more susceptible to stains and the coating wears out faster.
You should also avoid substances that contain citrus or citric acid. After all, this also contributes to the rapid damage to the surface of the travertine tile.
Pollution prevention
It is important to understand that you should not be apprehensive about the process of cleaning travertine shower tiles. To make the coating less dirty and to spend less time cleaning, you should follow a few rules for prevention.
Try to wipe the surface with a damp and clean cloth after each shower. This removes suds from shampoo, and soap scum, and prevents mold.
Cleaning the travertine tiles: tools
Travertine is considered a sensitive stone. Therefore, travertine tiles can be quickly damaged if you use the wrong tools and materials. Choose cleaners designed for porous natural stone.
Do not use formulations that contain acids. Also, do not use homemade products. After all, they can damage the stone. The possibilities for travertine shower cleaning are quite limited, however, do not rush to get upset.
On the market, there are special tools designed to work with natural stones. They are environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and highly effective.
The list of consumables includes:
- special cleaner for working with natural stones;
- soft clean cloth;
- soft brush;
- old toothbrush;
- baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
A simple and effective way to clean the travertine tiles
Quite often, people wonder, can I use Dawn to clean travertine? Periodic maintenance and light cleaning is recommended. However, 1-2 times a month it is necessary to engage in a full cleaning of the travertine shower.
It is better to wipe the travertine tiles after each use of the shower with a microfiber cloth dipped in clean warm water. This helps to remove detergents, hair, etc. If not done regularly, the travertine tiles become dirty quickly.
Every month you should clean the travertine tiles, using special cleansers for working with natural stones. This keeps the travertine tiles clean and prevents the formation of mold. Work best with a soft brush.
It is best to use it to work on edges near which there is grout. Often a soft cloth helps. You can also use an old toothbrush soaked in detergent. It is better to pre-clean it from the remnants of toothpaste so that no additional contamination remains on the surface.
The brush is ideal for working on corners, seams, and places that are difficult to reach. After cleaning, rinse all surfaces under running water to get rid of any soap scum remover.
Soap scum remover
Quite often, people wonder, can you clean travertine with soap and water? Soap scum remover with solution does not the best option because they leave a thin invisible film on the surface. Especially if you use natural soap scum, which contains a lot of essential oils.
They leave a film that makes the travertine shower dull and dirty. Soap scum on the surface looks ugly, and may even damage the tile. If soap scum build up on the surface for too long, hard water deposits can be there.
This corrodes the shower and causes pitting. The travertine tiles begin to stain, which does not look very nice. Soap scum remover is carried out using special cleaning products for working with natural stones.
Apply the product to the surface of the travertine shower, and leave for 10 minutes to dissolve the soap residue. After that, it remains to rinse everything under running water, and wipe the surfaces dry with clean napkins.
You can also use special formulations of soap scum remover. However, make sure that they do not contain acids. Otherwise, soap scum remover will damage the stone, and make its shade dimmer.
How to clean travertine floors?
If you need to clean the floor in the travertine shower, you should work with a mop, which is complemented by a microfiber cloth. You don’t even have to use cleaning products. It is enough to moisten the mop in clean warm water and clean travertine floors.
This helps to remove various contaminants, including soap scum. This is the best solution for spacious travertine showers, which are quite difficult to keep clean and tidy all the time.
Removing mold from a travertine shower
The question often arises, how do you remove mold from a travertine shower? Everyone knows that mold can be easily removed with special cleaning products. You can use a microfiber cloth and a stone cleaner for cleaning mold in the shower.
To prevent mold growth, it is recommended to clean the shower area after each use. It is enough to wipe the surfaces with a dry or damp cloth. This keeps excess oils and soap scum build up on the surface, so mold won’t have a chance to grow.
If you keep everything under your control, you do not have to deal with traces of mold pointwise. However, you need to understand that no one is immune from its appearance. Therefore, if you notice signs of mold, you should immediately carry out general cleaning in the shower.
Stubborn stain removal
Often, stains can remain on the surface of a travertine shower, which is very problematic to remove. You can notice them while cleaning after taking a shower. If you wiped the surface, however, the stain remains, so you have to use special tools.
Often, housewives use hydrogen peroxide. However, you need to work carefully so as not to discolor the coating. Before starting major work, test a small area to make sure that hydrogen peroxide does not damage the coating.
Permissible and Prohibited measures when working with travertine
It should be noted that cleaning a travertine shower is a little different from other rooms. That is why several clear rules should be followed during cleaning.
As already mentioned, it is important to thoroughly wipe surfaces every day from water and accumulated cosmetics. This greatly facilitates the general cleaning process, as well as prevents the formation of mold. You do not have to constantly deal with complex cleaning.
General cleaning in the travertine shower should be carried out 1-2 times a week. However, it is better to do it as needed. Use only products designed for travertine or natural porous stones. If you notice spills on the surface, they should be cleaned up immediately.
Don’t let them stay on the surface of the stone, as this requires more effort to clean in the future. Products containing dyes can damage travertine tiles. In the shower, you need to install a special tray on which soap scum is stored.
Travertine tiles can be printed. This prevents water from being absorbed, and the travertine tiles do not foam up. If there are holes in the tiles, they must be patched. You cannot use products that contain acids. After all, they spoil the tile.
Also, do not use homemade products if you are not sure of their safety for natural stone. It is forbidden to use abrasive brushes, as well as cleaning products with a similar composition.
Cleaning a travertine shower with natural remedies
If you want your travertine shower to retain its beauty for a long time, try to create an optimal cleaning schedule. Every day try to sweep the floor, then wipe it with a dry mop with a soft cloth. This prevents dirt from soaking into the surface.
Regularly wash the surface using warm water and a special product. While washing, the mop and rag should be cleaned at 30-square-foot intervals. Always use clean tools.
Results
As you can see, cleaning a travertine shower is quite simple if you wipe the surfaces of water every day. Remember that you need to work with the help of special tools that do not spoil the coating, damage the stone, and sealing travertine tiles.
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