Cleaning Marble Memorials

Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work.

Cleaning marble memorials.

Bleach is alkaline so it doesn t pose the big risk of acidic. It is important that you know what type of stone you are dealing with. Nevertheless for some families marble is still the stone of choice because of its natural beauty. How to clean a marble headstone.

Conservator angus lawrence supplies a brief expert introduction to the cleaning of historic marble monuments. Sandstone gently clean using water with a neutral detergent use a biocide solution to help remove any organic growth. 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. Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite.

How to clean marble headstones. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage. This is the opposite of an all to common assumption that extreme measures given the contaminants should be used on exterior marble cleaning. Different types will require different cleaning methods.

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. Most headstones are made up of natural stones which are comprised of salts and minerals. How to clean marble headstones. 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. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution. The steps below will help you in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to prevent further damage to the gravestone.

Pre wet the stone with clean water. 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. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. Clean a marble gravestone.

If these are present it may be best to leave it as is. Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned. If there is growth remove using a wooden scraper. Simply wet a soft brush in a bucket of water and gently scrub away the debris from the stone.

In knowing how to clean a marble headstone properly you adopt the gentlest least invasive practices to preserve the longevity of the stone. The most common types of headstones existing today are made of sandstone granite marble and limestone.