Cleaning Marble Monuments

However it still must be a very gentle cleaning.

Cleaning marble monuments.

Add in a few drops of ammonia and then add. Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned. How to clean marble headstones. In knowing how to clean a marble headstone properly you adopt the gentlest least invasive practices to preserve the longevity of the stone.

Throughout the cleaning process you should avoid dry to dry surface contact so always keep the surface to be cleaned wet and frequently dip soak whatever cleaning implement you re using in fresh water. The hardest of the natural stone type of monuments that you will see in a cemetery is granite which is still widely used today granite has a hardness of between 7 and 9 and can withstand a little more cleaning than the other types of natural stone. It is important that you know what type of stone you are dealing with. Put a handful of cotton balls in a bowl.

Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage. How to clean a marble headstone. Gravestones are made of many materials such as marble granite limestone sandstone bronze slate iron.

Steps to clean a marble headstone. Clean water non ionic detergent biocide solution ammonia and water solution. Different types will require different cleaning methods. Once the headstone is clean buff the marble dry with a dry and clean cloth.

Conservator angus lawrence supplies a brief expert introduction to the cleaning of historic marble monuments. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. Jump ahead to these sections. Next thoroughly wet the headstone gravemarker or memorial using your sponge and or by pouring water over the surface s you wish to clean.

Comet or common dry cleanser without the extra cleaning crystals works wonders when cleaning unpolished modern granite monuments. Clean a marble gravestone. If there is growth remove using a wooden scraper. Inspect the entire headstone for cracks wear and signs of damage.

If these are present it may be best to leave it as is. While this article focuses on cleaning granite headstones it s important to know how to work on cleaning any kind of headstone. Do not use cleanser on polished granite as it may scratch the finished surface of the stone. Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution.

If steps 1 to 3 fail to remove the mold and mildew stains on the marble headstone make a poultice with cotton balls hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Make and apply a poultice. Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present.

Cleaning granite step by step.