Cleaning Marble Gravestones

Cleaning gravestones with bleach is never a good idea church said but it s especially bad when you re working on porous stone.

Cleaning marble gravestones.

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. Clean limestone using the same method as the one used to clean marble. Cleaning headstones helps to preserve them and it should never be your intent to make them look new again just clean.

Moca does not recommend the use of power washers on old marble or slate stones. Most headstones are made up of natural stones which are comprised of salts and minerals. Use the same method you would use for a granite stone. Repeat this process approximately every 18 months.

Remove loose dry material with a soft bristled brush. Mix 1 tablespoon of the non ionic soap with 1 gallon of water. Here are the do s for cleaning exterior marble. Mix a marble cleaning product or 1 tablespoon of non ionic soap such as ivory with 1 gallon of water.

Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. 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. However each marker s condition is different and you should base your cleaning on the condition of that stone. Bleach is alkaline so it doesn t pose the big risk of acidic.

Use water only to clean stones. Do no harm the first step in cleaning a gravestone. How to clean marble headstones. Let the area dry after cleaning to determine its effectiveness.

Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work. The most common types of headstones existing today are made of sandstone granite marble and limestone. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. 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.

Most markers in cemeteries are made of limestone sandstone slate marble granite or in some cases concrete. Gravestones can become covered in moss and lichen and the carved words can become obscured with dirt and grime. Use the wooden scraper to remove any algae or moss growth from the surface. Limestone is another popular choice for headstones.

Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. Always test a cleaner on a dry section of marble before using it on the entire headstone. Professionals may use other cleaning agents.