Looking after a travertine table day to day
Travertine is a limestone: solid, but sensitive to acids. A few simple habits are enough to keep a tabletop beautiful for years.
Everyday cleaning
A soft sponge, lukewarm water and a few drops of pH-neutral soap (diluted black soap or a stone-specific product). Rinse, then wipe with a dry cloth to avoid marks. Avoid abrasive sponges, bleach, vinegar and acidic or descaling household cleaners.
The tabletop’s enemies: acids
Lemon, vinegar, wine, soda or fruit juice attack limestone: they leave a dull mark, called an “acid etch”. The right reflex is towipe up immediately anything that spills, and to put glasses and carafes on coasters. A treated tabletop gives you more time to react, but does not make the stone immune to acids.
Protecting the stone
A water- and oil-repellent treatment (against water and grease) seals the pores of the stone and limits stains. It is generally renewed every 12 to 18 months on a dining table, more often if it is heavily used. To know whether it needs redoing, place a few drops of water on the surface: if they bead, the protection is holding; if the stone darkens and absorbs the water, it is time to renew it.
Dealing with a stain or a mark
A greasy stain is treated with a stone poultice, left on for a few hours and then removed. A dull mark caused by an acid, or a light scratch, is repaired by localised sanding and polishing: this is a stonemason’s job, and we can point you to one. Do not try to sand a polished tabletop yourself.
Filled or natural: what changes
A filled travertine has its pores filled: the surface is smooth and is cleaned like solid stone. A natural travertine keeps its cavities, where crumbs can settle: a gentle pass with the vacuum cleaner or a brush is enough. See our guide to finishes.
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