Cleaning and Preservation of Tombstones,
Headstones & Gravestones
Did you recently visit the
grave of a loved one only to discover their
tombstone was dirty and in need of cleaning or
preservation? Over a period of time tombstones
will accumulate a layer of deposits resulting from
hard water, dust, dirt, or lichens, mold and fungus
that usually grow on a porous stone.
Due to the different types
of materials used as a tombstones, it is
first important to understand how each material
needs to be cleaned. This article will serve as an
overview to the general aspects of cleaning
tombstones and will reference other publications for
further reading.
Materials Used For Cleaning Tombstones
First let us look at the
different materials used to make tombstones. Natural
stone throughout history has been the top choice for
cemetery tombstones. Among the most common types of
stone used as tombstones are sandstone, limestone,
marble and granite.
Limestone and sandstone
represent the softest stone of the group. These
materials have a hardness between 3-4 on the Mohs
hardness scale and were used as tombstones
mainly because of their ease of carving. Marble
having a hardness of 4-7 is also considered soft,
but it yields more beauty with it's veining patterns
and finer grain which can support intricate carving
details on tombstones. Granite is the hardest of
this group as it shows with a hardness rating of
7-9. Granite tombstones will withstand a more
thorough cleaning than its counterparts in this
group.
In addition to natural
stone, bronze has been gaining in popularity with
modern day memorial parks as a choice for
tombstones. Many of today's cemeteries are
moving toward an all bronze memorial park since they
make the grounds easier to maintain.
Headstone Cleaning Tools and Methods
Before cleaning a tombstone you
must first get permission from the lot owner or next
of kin, that is if you are not a relative of the
person interred. Also tombstones that are to be
cleaned need to be evaluated to make certain they
are in stable condition with no flaking or risk of
further deterioration from the cleaning process.
Limestone, Sandstone & Marble Tombstones
For cleaning the tombstones
made of soft natural stone in this group, here is a
list of generally accepted items to use:
- Plenty of water
- Buckets
- Natural bristle
brushes/tooth brushes
- Non-ionic
soaps/detergents
- TLC (tender loving
care)
For an additional resource
on cleaning tools for tombstones read "Tools
and Materials for Gravestone Cleaning Projects".
Here are some items you DO
NOT want to use when cleaning tombstones as they
may cause irreparable damage to the tombstone you
are trying to preserve:
- Wire bristled brushes
or metal instruments
- Acid or acidic
cleaners
- Household cleaners -
soap (Ivory), detergents (liquid or powder),
Borax, Clorox, TSP, Calgon, Fantastik, Formula
409, Spic and Span (or any other abrasive
cleaner)
- Pressure washers
- Sealants of any kind
For a more in depth study
on the use of cleaning materials for tombstones read
"Review
and Evaluation of Selected Brand Name Materials for
Cleaning Gravestones".
Rather than trying to
"reinvent the wheel" we suggest referring to these
articles as they provide in depth information on
cleaning tombstones made from natural stone.
Cleaning Gravestones, Monuments & Stone
Sculptures
Preserving Historic Cemeteries - Texas
Preservation Guidelines (Specifically page 9
of this PDF document)
Granite Tombstones
When cleaning granite
tombstones it is best to follow the same
prescription for cleaning limestone, sandstone or
marble tombstones. Additionally, due to granite's
durability, it is all right to use a more aggressive
scrubbing technique. You can also use a pressure
washer on granite tombstones as long as it is in
stable condition and reveals no fracturing or
cracks.
A word of caution, when
using a pressure washer be careful if the
tombstone's carving or engraved areas have any kind
of coloring in it such as black. The pressure washer
can and will strip it out leaving little or no
contrast for the viewer to read the lettering on the
tombstone. Taking this into consideration it is best
to use a pressure washer only on granite tombstones
that have no contrasting paint in the engraved
areas.
On polished granite
tombstones, calcium deposits from hardened water
often leave a hazed coating on the surface. It is
recommended to use a heavy duty non-metallic
scouring pad to remove these calcium
deposits. You can also purchase one from a grocery
store. Just make certain it is safe to use on
granite. Using a non-ionic soap or detergent and
water you can scrub the polished surface thoroughly
with the scouring pad to remove the deposits.
Bronze Tombstones
Bronze Tombstones consist
of a bronze plaque mounted to a base usually of
granite or concrete and lay flat at lawn level. As a
result of being mounted flat, bronze tombstones are
more susceptible to standing water and landing
debris.
Since bronze tombstones
consist of two components you can utilize the
cleaning method for cleaning soft stone for a
concrete base, and the polished granite method for
cleaning the granite base.
The bronze plaque is
furnished with a factory applied lacquer coating to
seal and preserve the original appearance. Over a
period of time this finish will eventually
deteriorate and is accelerated through neglect.
Proper care will preserve the finish and prevent the
need for restoration.
Here is a good manual
titled "Preserving
Bronze Plaques And Memorials". It provides
all the instructions you need as well as a list of
supplies. You can also purchase the
preservation kit with the necessary
supplies or just the
wax here.
Environmentally Friendly Tombstone Cleaning
For those of you who are
interested in a more environmentally friendly
approach to cleaning tombstones, there is a rather
unusual method of using snails. That's right...
snails. Snails are known to consume lichens, mold,
fungus and algae. Many of these growths are what
causes tombstones to become 'dirty' and in need of a
cleaning. You can read the full article here: "A
Unique Method For Cleaning Headstones". |
