Cleaning Marble Tombstone With Pressure Washer

Some groups do it as part of reading cemeteries to gather historical documentation or as a way to beautify a cemetery.

Cleaning marble tombstone with pressure washer.

A search of the internet will find hundreds of websites all with a similar wrong message in most cases moss or most stains can be removed by pressure washing and professional cleaning. Best way to clean a headstone. With a careful gentle hand and a bit of elbow grease you can refresh a headstone or grave marker making it easier to read and restoring some of the stone s beautiful finish as first created by the crafting stonemason. The first step in cleaning a headstone correctly is to select the right cleaner.

Clean a granite headstone. Commercial pressure washers generally operate between 750 and 30 000 psi which can damage the marble s surface however pressure washing at 500 psi or below and at a distance of 12 inches from the stone face or more is acceptable. She is particularly interested in home and garden projects as well as beauty and fashion writing. Pressure washing of gravestones is a somewhat new and serious threat to cemeteries.

Due to the natural ageing and weathering process you probably won t return the marble or granite to its perfect original condition however. You should look for a cleaner that contains non ionic detergents as these will be the most gentle. The pressure washer can and will strip it out leaving little or no contrast for the viewer to read the lettering on the tombstone. All of these stones are much softer than granite and require different cleaning methods.

Most of these websites are for monument companies and seem to be making. Rinse and wipe the marble headstone once all of the debris has been removed by the soapy water mixture rinse the entire surface of the marble headstone thoroughly with clean water and a clean cloth. Cleaning tombstones and monuments has become quite popular among many individuals and groups. You want to keep the marble wet throughout the cleaning process by continually wiping the marble headstone with a cloth and clean water.

Others are individual descendants doing much the same things. And others take on tombstone cleaning for things like eagle scout projects. 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. Kaye wagner has been working in the fields of journalism and public relations since 2006 and is a recipient of a national hearst award.

Never use a pressure washer on a tombstone as it will erode the stone and accelerate the wear and tear on the stone while removing the crisp edges of engravings. Headstones can be constructed from a variety of materials including limestone marble and sandstone. Do not use normal household cleaners soaps and detergents ivory formula 409 bleach tsp laundry detergents dish detergents etc to clean headstones. Once you have checked out the stone you are ready to start actually cleaning.