Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
First degrease your travertine: a film of oil and cleaner is often all that is dulling it. If it is still flat, the surface has probably been etched. Small dull areas on polished travertine can be buffed back with marble polishing powder, but restoring the shine across a whole benchtop means professional honing and re-polishing. Remember that honed travertine is meant to be low-sheen; what it needs is an even finish, not shine.
First, check what you are dealing with
- Flat, slightly greasy look everywhere: residue.
- Dull patches near the sink, cooktop or where drinks are served: etching.
- Whole surface dull and slightly rough: worn finish needing professional work.
What you need
- Hot water and dish liquid
- Microfibre cloths
- Marble polishing powder (small areas)
Step by step
Degrease first
Wash with hot water and a good squeeze of dish liquid, rinse with clean water and dry with microfibre. Residue from oils and cleaners is the most common cause of a flat-looking surface.
Polish small patches
On polished stone, buff small dull patches with polishing powder and water for one to two minutes, rinse and check.
Professional re-polish for the rest
A stone restorer can refill open holes, re-hone the surface and blend repairs into the surrounding stone.
Keep it that way
Protection film over the freshly polished surface stops the dullness returning.
What not to use on travertine
- Waxes, furniture polish and "stone shine" sprays that coat rather than polish.
- Vinegar, lemon juice or "natural" citrus cleaners: they etch travertine.
When to call a professional
A stone restorer can refill open holes, re-hone the surface and blend repairs into the surrounding stone.
Understanding dull surfaces and lost shine on travertine
Most travertine is honed, so damage usually shows as darker rings, lighter dull patches or fills that look different from the stone around them.
Travertine is a limestone deposited by mineral springs, so it is calcium carbonate and etches as readily as marble.
A stone restorer can refill open holes, re-hone the surface and blend repairs into the surrounding stone.
Good to know
Travertine is usually honed, so what looks dull is often uneven: some areas etched lighter, others darkened by oil. Re-honing evens the whole surface.
Stop it happening again
Whether yours is ivory, beige, walnut and silver travertine, vein cut or cross cut, repairing it fixes today's mark; protecting it stops the next one. Our clear Stone Protection Film sits over the surface, so acids cannot etch it and liquids cannot soak in, and its self-healing top layer shrugs off fine everyday marks. Most travertine is honed and filled, so the Matte/Satin film is the usual match: it keeps the natural, low-sheen look. It is installed across Sydney with a 10-year written warranty.
How we protect travertine · Fixing etch marks · Dull surfaces & lost shine on every surface