Cleaning Old Marble Tombstones

Use a gentle cleaner like ivory.

Cleaning old marble tombstones.

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. 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. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. I love old weathered gravestones.

If too much cracking or damage decay is present attempting to clean it could cause further irreparable harm. 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. 4 litres of water if the cemetery doesn t have water you can use. Sandstone slate and marble gravestones will gradually deteriorate after cleaning so they should be thoroughly cleaned every 7 10 years and no more.

Leave no residue from the cleaning agent on the stone as it could cause permanent streaking. Cleaning more frequently can weaken the marble. Use the same method you would use for a granite stone. My usual answer is don t do it unless absolutely necessary.

Marble headstones should only be cleaned if they are in decent condition. As with interior marble cleaning soak the cemetery headstone with water before adding a cleaner. 217 people used more information video for how to clean old tombstones. Never use household cleaners bleach metal tools scouring pads wire brushes power tools pressure washers or nyalox brushes.

Mix 1 tablespoon of the non ionic soap with 1 gallon of water. Cleaning gravestones posted 09 09 14 in the headstone guide people often ask me about cleaning gravestones. 2 clean rags or cloths for washing the headstone. Repeat this process approximately every 18 months.

Once the headstone is clean buff the marble dry with a dry and clean cloth. A newer product called wet and forget has not been thoroughly tested and this is not a product we can recommend. 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.

Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.