Cleaning Marble Gravestones

Mix a marble cleaning product or 1 tablespoon of non ionic soap such as ivory with 1 gallon of water.

Cleaning marble gravestones.

Moca does not recommend the use of power washers on old marble or slate stones. Here are the do s for cleaning exterior marble. Do no harm the first step in cleaning a gravestone. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.

Repeat this process approximately every 18 months. 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. 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.

Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution. Use the same method you would use for a granite stone. Mix 1 tablespoon of the non ionic soap with 1 gallon of water. Always test a cleaner on a dry section of marble before using it on the entire headstone.

Remove loose dry material with a soft bristled brush. Use water only to clean stones. 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. Cleaning headstones helps to preserve them and it should never be your intent to make them look new again just clean.

Limestone is another popular choice for headstones. Bleach is alkaline so it doesn t pose the big risk of acidic. Let the area dry after cleaning to determine its effectiveness. Professionals may use other cleaning agents.

Clean the sides and back of the stone first then lastly. The steps below will help you in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to prevent further damage to the gravestone. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. Cleaning gravestones with bleach is never a good idea church said but it s especially bad when you re working on porous stone.

Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work. How to clean marble headstones. Clean limestone using the same method as the one used to clean marble.

The most common types of headstones existing today are made of sandstone granite marble and limestone. Minimize the number of times a cemetery headstone is cleaned in its lifetime consider a plan to clean once a year. Most markers in cemeteries are made of limestone sandstone slate marble granite or in some cases concrete.