Keeping your travertine clean is one thing, but keeping it looking as if it was new is another thing. If you clean your travertine on a regular basis, think about it again, your travertine tiles could get dull and might even lose their original brilliance. This is one thing which you could never return to the travertine stone again! So instead of cleaning it often, why not consider travertine polishing.
While polishing makes your travertine new, how often should you do it? It all boils down to how much they are used. You can polish travertine floors every six to 12 months, if they are in the “walking-traffic “area. When it comes to travertine countertops, it could only be necessary to polish every three years.
If you were brave enough to attempt this travertine polishing as a Do It Yourself project here are some tips: A clean cloth, 400-grit sandpaper, 600-grit sandpaper, 800-grit sandpaper and a buffing pad. First you will have to wipe the travertine tiles you desire to polish. Wipe them clean as not to let unnecessary dirt and dust interfere with the polishing, next, you can sand the tile using the 400-grit sandpaper.
In sanding the tiles, you have to do it in a circular motion. Use just the right pressure to remove only the imperfections on the tile top. When you have finished sanding the tiles use the cloth again to wipe the tile surface. The next step would involve using the 600-grit sandpaper, yes; you will have to sand the tile again to make the travertine be a little shinier. If you can, remove the remaining scuffs from the previous grit.
Finish up sanding with the 800-grit sandpaper, to make the surface smooth. Lastly, use the buffing pad to buff the travertine to let out its glossy shine. You can now be finished with your travertine polishing You can also use 1200-grit sandpaper after the 800 grit for travertine tiles on countertops and walls.