Cleaning Marble Gravestones

Remove loose dry material with a soft bristled brush.

Cleaning marble gravestones.

Clean the sides and back of the stone first then lastly. Here are the do s for cleaning exterior marble. Gravestones can become covered in moss and lichen and the carved words can become obscured with dirt and grime. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.

Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. Always test a cleaner on a dry section of marble before using it on the entire headstone. Clean limestone using the same method as the one used to clean marble. Most headstones are made up of natural stones which are comprised of salts and minerals.

However each marker s condition is different and you should base your cleaning on the condition of that stone. The steps below will help you in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to prevent further damage to the gravestone. Let the area dry after cleaning to determine its effectiveness. Mix a marble cleaning product or 1 tablespoon of non ionic soap such as ivory with 1 gallon of water.

Cleaning gravestones with bleach is never a good idea church said but it s especially bad when you re working on porous stone. Minimize the number of times a cemetery headstone is cleaned in its lifetime consider a plan to clean once a year. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. Cleaning headstones helps to preserve them and it should never be your intent to make them look new again just clean.

Use the wooden scraper to remove any algae or moss growth from the surface. Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. Do no harm the first step in cleaning a gravestone.

Most markers in cemeteries are made of limestone sandstone slate marble granite or in some cases concrete. The most common types of headstones existing today are made of sandstone granite marble and limestone. Remove excess debris dip a natural bristle brush into the soap and water mixture and brush along the surface of the marble headstone to scrub away any excess debris. Use water only to clean stones.

Mix 1 tablespoon of the non ionic soap with 1 gallon of water. Moca does not recommend the use of power washers on old marble or slate stones. Professionals may use other cleaning agents. Use the same method you would use for a granite stone.

Limestone is another popular choice for headstones. Cleaning a white marble gravestone requires care and some special tools but it is a relatively easy task that can be accomplished in one afternoon. Repeat this process approximately every 18 months.