How to Clean Headstones at Cemetery?

When a person passes away, their headstone is the only thing that continues to carry their name decades and even centuries later. These days, there is a huge variety of headstones available and depending on the level of customization a client requires, the price can easily run into thousands of dollars.



Honoring Loved Ones

There are a lot of people who like to visit the grave of their loved ones every now and then to pay their respects. As a way of honoring their loved ones, many people also like to clean their headstone and make sure the grave keeps looking great.

Having to pay such huge amounts for a headstone is another reason why more and more people are making sure to keep their loved ones’ headstones clean and well-maintained.

Believe it or not, many headstone makers actually advise against cleaning a headstone yourself. That is because no matter how gentle you are with the headstone, there is a risk that you might damage it. And, once the headstone’s rough surface has been damaged, the softer inside will erode even quicker.
Alas, many people still like to clean their loved ones’ headstone themselves. So, if we can’t stop you from doing it, we feel that we should teach you the proper of cleaning a headstone so that there’s as little risk of damaging the headstone as possible.

Types of Headstones

When it comes to headstones, there are four kinds of rocks in use; limestone, sandstone, marble and granite. Out of these four, limestone and sandstone are the softest and so, they erode at the fastest rate.

These two rocks are readily available and extremely easy to shape and this is why grave markers used to use them. The good news is, they are rarely used these days but the bad news is, it’s likely the old (and dirty) headstone you want to clean is made of either of these two.

Marble and granite are both used in modern headstones and grave markers but, in toughness granite beats marble. So, if the headstone you want to clean is made of sandstone/limestone; don’t clean it. If it’s made of marble or granite there is a little room.

Before you get cleaning, make sure you check the local and state laws regarding it. Considering you’ve gotten a go from the authorities, here are the cleaning tools you’ll need;

Non-ionic soap (they’re free of harsh and damaging salts)
Nylon brushes of varying stiffness
A firm toothbrush
Sponges
Lots of clean water (preferably, distilled water)

Cleaning the Headstone

To clean the headstone, first remove big chunks of dirt and grime with the brushes. Next, throw some water on the headstone and use soap. Carefully rub the soap with sponges and be extremely gentle on the carving.

Use the brushes once more to remove all grime and dirt (don’t use any brush on the carving). Now wash the headstone with water and gently rub it with a sponge to remove all soap.

Before cleaning, make sure to carefully check the headstone for any cracks and other damages. In case, there are cracks on the headstone, it’s preferred that you don’t clean it. But if you must, do it without water and soap.