Cleaning Marble Memorials

His article begins with an overview of the material s origins and historic uses before going on to focus on its durability and defects cleaning assessments the cleaning process and the application of protective surface coatings such as microcrystalline wax or limewash.

Cleaning marble memorials.

Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. Nevertheless for some families marble is still the stone of choice because of its natural beauty. If these are present it may be best to leave it as is. The steps below will help you in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to prevent further damage to the gravestone.

Marble headstones or limestone use clean water with a neutral detergent biocide solution ammonia hydroxide or household ammonia and water solution use protective wear and work in a well ventilated area. This is the opposite of an all to common assumption that extreme measures given the contaminants should be used on exterior marble cleaning. Cleaning granite memorial stones depending upon the amount of debris that has accumulated on the gravestone gently wash with water and a soft cloth the worst of the dirt. Cleaning gravestones with bleach is never a good idea church said but it s especially bad when you re working on porous stone.

Steps to clean a marble headstone. Marble tombstones aren t as popular today as granite or bronze gravestones because marble is highly vulnerable to stains and damage. How to clean marble headstones. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.

Pre wet the stone with clean water. Most headstones are made up of natural stones which are comprised of salts and minerals. Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution. Inspect the entire headstone for cracks wear and signs of damage.

If there is growth remove using a wooden scraper. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. How to clean marble headstones. How to clean a marble headstone.

Simply wet a soft brush in a bucket of water and gently scrub away the debris from the stone. Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite. Conservator angus lawrence supplies a brief expert introduction to the cleaning of historic marble monuments. It is important that you know what type of stone you are dealing with.

If a loved one has a marble headstone this is your complete step by step guide. In knowing how to clean a marble headstone properly you adopt the gentlest least invasive practices to preserve the longevity of the stone. Sandstone gently clean using water with a neutral detergent use a biocide solution to help remove any organic growth. Bleach is alkaline so it doesn t pose the big risk of acidic.

Different types will require different cleaning methods. Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work.