Cleaning Old Marble Tombstones

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

Cleaning old marble tombstones. Mix 1 tablespoon of the non ionic soap with 1 gallon of water. Marble headstones should only be cleaned if they are in decent condition. For stubborn areas an equal mixture of water and white spirit with up to 2 non ionic detergent added may be useful. 4 litres of water if the cemetery doesn t have water you can use.

Use the same method you would use for a granite stone. Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. Cleaning gravestones posted 09 09 14 in the headstone guide people often ask me about cleaning gravestones. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.

Once the headstone is clean buff the marble dry with a dry and clean cloth. Never use household cleaners bleach metal tools scouring pads wire brushes power tools pressure washers or nyalox brushes. A newer product called wet and forget has not been thoroughly tested and this is not a product we can recommend. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present.

2 clean rags or cloths for washing the headstone. I love old weathered gravestones. 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. Make and apply a poultice 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.

Use the wooden scraper to remove any algae or moss growth from the surface. Use a gentle cleaner like ivory. 217 people used more information video for how to clean old tombstones. As with interior marble cleaning soak the cemetery headstone with water before adding a cleaner.

Repeat this process approximately every 18 months. My usual answer is don t do it unless absolutely necessary. Sandstone slate and marble gravestones will gradually deteriorate after cleaning so they should be thoroughly cleaned every 7 10 years and no more. Q tips for cleaning any inlays and engravings.

General grime nicotine build up and fingerprints can usually be cleaned from unpainted marble using white spirit or a mixture of deionised purified water with up to 2 non ionic detergent added.