To increase the beauty of their interior living spaces, many homeowners choose to install travertine tiles in their kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and other living areas. Unlike other types of tile, these ones are often laid quite close together, leaving a grout joint that is about one sixteenth of an inch wide. The reason for this is that many homeowners feel the grout can have a negative impact on the beauty of the travertine, but the thin joints can actually make it very difficult to keep the grout clean.

When you notice that the grout between your travertine tiles is beginning to get quite dirty, you may decide that it is time to give the whole area a really good clean to restore the original beauty of the stone. Cleaning the grout, however, raises issues of its own, as it is very important that you are careful not to damage the surface of the travertine. Use the following tips and instructions to ensure that you are able to clean the grout without posing any risks to the stone:

• Never use any type of acidic cleaner on your travertine tiles, as these are known to etch deeply into the finish of the stone. You should also avoid alkaline cleaners that were not specifically designed for cleaning tiles, grout and natural stone, as these can dull the finish of the stone.
• Mix an appropriate alkaline cleaner with extremely hot water, then apply it to both the travertine tiles and the grout between them. Leave this solution on the area for around 20 minutes to give it plenty of time to draw out the dirt, grease and grime. Simply use a mop and bucket to rinse away the cleaner and excess dirt.
• When dirt and grime has really ingrained itself into the grout, you will need to use a soft scrubbing pad dipped in some warm, soapy water to loosen it up. Never use a harsher scrubbing pad, as this will scratch the surface of your travertine tiles.
• To ensure that the dirt and grime is being completely lifted from the grout and not just deposited back into the joints as you mop the cleaner away, you can use a shop vac to suck up the dirty water. Be careful not to touch the surface of the travertine tile with the nozzle to prevent scratching.

For dirt and grime that is highly stubborn, you also have the option of getting a professional steam cleaning crew in. Hot steam will not damage travertine at all, so this solution is completely safe to use if you are at your wits end for completely removing the muck from your grout. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to clean the grout between your travertine tiles and restore them to their former glory.