Cleaning Old Marble Tombstones

Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.

Cleaning old marble tombstones.

An undiluted cleaning agent may leave a residue in the marble s pores. Marble headstones should only be cleaned if they are in decent condition. Leave no residue from the cleaning agent on the stone as it could cause permanent streaking. Use the wooden scraper to remove any algae or moss growth from the surface.

A newer product called wet and forget has not been thoroughly tested and this is not a product we can recommend. I love old weathered gravestones. 4 litres of water if the cemetery doesn t have water you can use. Repeat this process approximately every 18 months.

Cleaning gravestones posted 09 09 14 in the headstone guide people often ask me about cleaning gravestones. Acid or acidic cleaning agents especially on marble or limestone should only be used by those properly trained working on non calcareous stone household cleaners including soap detergents borax tsp anything you d use to clean your home any type of sealant. 2 clean rags or cloths for washing the headstone. Mix 1 tablespoon of the non ionic soap with 1 gallon of water.

Q tips for cleaning any inlays and engravings. For stubborn areas an equal mixture of water and white spirit with up to 2 non ionic detergent added may be useful. Once the headstone is clean buff the marble dry with a dry and clean cloth. Use the same method you would use for a granite stone.

Be sure to locate the cemetery s water source or bring sufficient water at least a bucket since it takes a lot of water to properly clean a marble headstone. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. As with interior marble cleaning soak the cemetery headstone with water before adding a cleaner. Sandstone slate and marble gravestones will gradually deteriorate after cleaning so they should be thoroughly cleaned every 7 10 years and no more.

Use a gentle cleaner like ivory. Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. 217 people used more information video for how to clean old tombstones. My usual answer is don t do it unless absolutely necessary.

If too much cracking or damage decay is present attempting to clean it could cause further irreparable harm.