How Do You Safely Clean Old Gravestones

I have been a genealogist for over 25 years, and I honor those whose graves I come across in cemeteries.

How to Clean Old Headstones / Gravestones — How to Make clean Erstwhile Headstones / Gravestones

Keely Deuschle

Help Preserve the Past

Cemeteries are where many of u.s. choose equally our final resting identify. Information technology is the identify where our loved ones will return to pay their respects to us. But as fourth dimension passes, the headstone marking where nosotros residual may get worn, discolored, covered with lichen, or even broken.

If you've been to a cemetery to visit a loved i, you lot probably noticed many stones, especially older ones, in desperate demand of repair or at least a expert cleaning. Some may be worn beyond readability, as well. We tin take steps to ensure that the place that marks where our loved ones prevarication tin can be taken care of so that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren can continue to pay respect to our ancestors.

You may retrieve that because the cemetery is a perpetual intendance cemetery, the headstones would exist maintained under that care. However, perpetual care usually provides for the keeping of the grounds and regular maintenance of the overall cemetery. This may include cut grass, planting and caring for trees, road maintenance, drainage, and sometimes straightening of the markers.

Perpetual intendance cemeteries actually only came into existence near 75 years agone, and, sadly, many erstwhile cemeteries have been lost. Fifty-fifty for those quondam ones that are maintained, more ofttimes than not, the stones are in desperate need of help.

The following steps below will assist yous in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to preclude further damage to the gravestone:

Learn proper tools
Take advisable precautions
Recognize headstone types
Start cleaning headstones
Things to avert while cleaning

Before you lot head out to the cemetery, be sure to have some basic supplies with yous. These supplies include:

Jugs of distilled water (or garden hose if water access is available)
Spray canteen/garden sprayer (new, never used for any type of chemical)
Natural bristle brush or nylon castor, varying sizes and stiffness
Firm toothbrush
Sponges
Craft sticks (to gently remove lichens)

Have Appropriate Precautions

Before you attempt to clean a headstone, you must kickoff bank check its status. If at that place is evidence of whatever of the following, do not keep with cleaning:

Any stability issues whatsoever
The stone or lettering has any prove of flaking or parts of the stone falling abroad
Fractures anywhere on the stone
If anything even slightly suggests that the headstone is frail or even slightly vulnerable
If gently borer the rock or the base results in any hollow sound
A wooden headstone

If the condition of the stone appears to be okay, keep in mind the following bones suggestions when beginning to clean a headstone. Information technology is of import to note, that if the only reason to clean a stone is to remove lichens, algae, etc., it is not necessary as information technology may do more impairment to the stone than skilful.

Recognize Headstone Types

Most headstones are fabricated up of natural stones that are comprised of salts and minerals. The well-nigh common types of headstones existing today are fabricated of sandstone, granite, marble, and limestone. Due to its ease of maintaining a cemetery, flat bronze markers are becoming more than popular in cemeteries, especially memorial parks.

The natural stone tombstones can withstand varying degrees of cleaning, with most early ones beingness able to tolerate very fiddling. Limestone and sandstone are very soft stones and were used a lot in early cemeteries considering they were easy to carve. (The Mohs hardness calibration rates it having a hardness of iii–4.)

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Start Cleaning Headstones

Using water with unlike kinds and sizes of natural bristle brushes will require some patience, but it is the about natural and safest manner to make clean stones.
To begin, thoroughly saturate the headstone with h2o. By using a spray bottle or even a pump sprayer, you can utilise less water and ensure a clean rinse each fourth dimension.
Begin cleaning the stone starting at the bottom and work upward. This will assist to preclude any streaking and/or any boosted staining from occurring than if you worked from the top down. Be sure to rinse the surface area cleaned oftentimes with the water.
It is best to begin cleaning with the softest brushes possible and only gradually move to stiffer natural bristle brushes if needed. Remember, never utilise a wire or metallic castor.
If there are lichens or moss growing on the rock, gently scrape it with your wooden or plastic scrapers. Oftentimes, it will come off fairly hands; other times, it may need to be repeated.
When using a brush on the rock, use random circular motions, which as well helps with keeping streaking at a minimum.
Information technology is possible to apply non-ionic soaps to further assistance in the cleaning, but the types that can be safely used are minimal. Unless y'all thoroughly research the blazon(southward) and how to utilize information technology, do not use annihilation other than water and gentle brushing.
Rinse the cleaned expanse often and thoroughly rinse it when yous've completed the cleaning of the headstone.
Repeat for all sides of the marker.

Things to Avert While Cleaning

When yous follow the steps above, yous'll exist well on your manner to preserving someone's marker longer.

What we do not want to practice is anything that will advance the wearing of the stone, discoloring of the stone, etc. The following tools will crusade that unintended effect:

Wire bristled brushes
Metal anything
Abrasive pads
Pressure washers
Sandblasters
Power tools
Bleach
Acid or acidic cleaning agents (specially on marble or limestone) - should only be used by those properly trained working on non-calcareous stone ^[1]
Household cleaners including soap, detergents, Borax, TSP, anything you'd use to make clean your home ^[1]
Whatsoever blazon of sealant

A Small-scale merely Important Fashion to Preserve History

Then, at present you accept basic guidelines that volition aid y'all in helping to maintain the headstones of your loved ones. Remember, though, that despite your best efforts, tombstones will rarely look new again. And for sure types of stones, such as marble, limestone, and sandstone, information technology is recommended that they not be cleaned more than once every ten years since each time a rock is cleaned, it essentially washes a small layer abroad.

I believe it's important to go our children involved and help them to understand the importance of keeping upward the resting place of our loved ones; afterwards all, they're the generation that will be keeping up ours.

References

^[1] Walther, Tracy C. Review and Evaluation of Selected Brand Name Materials for Cleaning Gravestones.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's cognition and is non meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Eileen Buckham on September 16, 2019:

Golden writing is fading it'southward 15years old can anything be done please

Mattosmonuments.com on April 23, 2019:

Thank you so much for putting out such quality data. Equally a retailer of monuments and headstones in the bay area, people always endeavour to just go at the rock thinking its only stone. These are fragile pieces of art, thank you for showing the beloved you need to proceed these headstones beautiful. world wide web.mattosmonuments.com

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on July ten, 2018:

Lou Parks, putting a stone back together would exist something to talk to a monument company or someone who specializes in that sort of thing. I won't recommend attempting to reassemble one without professional assist as to not further damage the stone.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on July ten, 2018:

John Pigeon, I belong to a few, merely I do recording of cemeteries locally and sometimes when I travel. And yep, I am on Find A Grave.

We have a very large cemetery here with well-nigh 90,000 burials going back to early 1800s. Whenever I practise photo requests for Find A Grave, I record the unabridged section of the cemetery and add them to Find A Grave. I don't, notwithstanding, make clean the stones at that place equally they provide that service to families.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on July 10, 2018:

Gloria, no! Please don't paint or put annihilation on the stone! Anything, including chalk, flour, etc, should non exist added to a stone. And rubbings using paper and pencil or crayon should not be used.

I thing you may be able to try is to very advisedly place aluminum foil over the headstone. Exercise not affix tape to the headstone, rather braze it to other aluminum foil. The thinner aluminum foil is best. And so, very gently, using a small brush such every bit a makeup brush or other minor brush, gently brush over the areas where the lettering is and you'll become a relief of the stone which can help y'all read it.

Another thing to try is to photo it with calorie-free coming from unlike directions. In photography, lighting straight on (such as with a flash) will make everything seem apartment and the depth of the lettering volition not exist every bit visible. Try lighting from different angles or different times of 24-hour interval.

Gloria on July 10, 2018:

Is it OK to retrace the writing with nighttime paint so, it stands out?

lou parks on July 06, 2018:

how exercise you put former markers back to geather

John Dove on October 17, 2017:

Great Hub! You must take an aplenty supply of patience every bit well. Are you associated with any organization, due east.yard., genealogical society, that has a project the recording of cemeteries? Are you active on findagrave.com?

dick hohenbrink dhohenbrink@ymail.com on July 28, 2017:

Thank You for Your article. I have been noticing Markers beingness painter{ Old Sandstone} Tin can You give whatsoever input on the subject. My K Parents marking is from the tardily 1890 . Thank you.

Shelby Hinson on July 06, 2017:

I'm non certain, but I recollect the monument in question is granite or soapstone . It is the gravestone of my great grandfather who was in the Great Civil War.

ALISTAIR Baker on September 09, 2016:

Thank you for the info. I am researching my family here in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, and take constitute various head stones dating back to the mid 1880'southward. They all seem to be of a sandstone variety, some very well preserved due to location in cemetery, ie protected from the elements. Others accept not been so lucky, worn and faded letters , plus cracked and eroded faces.

I volition follow your instructions on the more durable ones and run across what results I get. Adept betoken to ask for permission from Local Authority/Town Council earlier progressing. Because of age they may well be protected and yous could autumn foul of local byelaws. Then will make the call this Monday and start the ball rolling or not.Regards

Jim mc neill on Baronial fourteen, 2016:

Would Oxyclean work

SmurfsAunt on May 12, 2016:

Y'all should never ever utilize any blazon of brush on whatever type of headstone.

Louise Greene on April 07, 2016:

Thanks for this article. I have a rock to clean and had no idea how to go near it.

Corie Neumayer on March 17, 2015:

We discovered an old family tombstone...granite or sandstone . The words are flaking off. Is there annihilation nosotros tin can do to preserve what is left?

Joe Fiduccia from Monroe County, PA on February 01, 2015:

This is honestly something I had never given much thought to. I capeesh the item y'all went into, and will even ne sure to share your advice with our dad in Poland, who cares for several headstones that are in serious demand of a face up elevator. Thank you!

RWW on October 21, 2014:

I have been cleaning and restoring old grave markers for a number of years. When the product Wet and Forget became available [in the USA] I was skeptical about using information technology on quondam sandstone or marble markers. I talked to the technical folks at Wet and Forget. I tried it on some old marble foot markers. It was very effective with no damage. It takes 3-6 months to see results and the results are dramatic.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on January 16, 2014:

Vivian-tmt-hnp, thanks for your kind words!

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on January 16, 2014:

Hello LWhip, very, very true, particularly with carved woods markers. I don't know if y'all had seen the other hub I wrote about recording a cemetery, but peculiarly in a case like yours, this is something that might exist helpful if it doesn't already exist.

LWhip on Jan 14, 2014:

Interesting commodity. Many of the old grave markings in our family cemetery are carved forest so we are very reliant on oral and recorded history, some of which is unfortunately incomplete now.

Vivian-tmt-hnp from USA. on August 16, 2013:

8:21am Friday 16 August 2013

Dear KDeus,

I really appreciate your sincere and precious essay.

Vivian

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on August xv, 2013:

CCCBit, I'm and so lamentable that you had the experience you did. I would have never thought almost that adventure, but thank you for sharing it for others to consider and prepare if they call back they may be afflicted. Couldn't hurt to carry gloves and an allergy mask in the kit. Thanks over again for sharing your experience and tip!

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on August fifteen, 2013:

Pgill, excellent tip. I have updated the article to reverberate distilled water. Thank you for taking the time to comment!

Keely Deuschle (writer) from Florida on August fifteen, 2013:

Barbara, I'1000 glad this information will help you to make clean your mother-in-law's grandmother'south stone! Good luck with your project.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on August xv, 2013:

Raitu Disong, thank you very much. I'm glad y'all've found this useful.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on August 15, 2013:

marion_langley, thank you! Please just don't use too much elbow grease!

CCCBit on August 15, 2013:

I would similar to caution anyone doing this to take great intendance not to injure yourself! After cleaning an quondam stone with water and a soft cloth, without gloves, I inadvertently wiped my face up with the dorsum of my hand and blew my nose (with clean tissue!) before washing my easily. Soon thereafter I developed a astringent rash on my face, non unlike poison ivy (and I had non encountered any plants that day). I had to take Prednisone for a calendar week. I do have a respiratory sensitivity to mold, and so I doubtable it was carelessness on my part and some type of mold. So, use gloves, take intendance not to touch any office of your skin, and maybe wear an allergy mask if you suspect you might be susceptible to mold allergies. Otherwise, great tips!

Pgill on August 15, 2013:

Thas for a great article.... I would likewise go as far every bit suggesting to merely use distilled h2o when cleaning stones which will also help against staining....

Barbara on Baronial xv, 2013:

Thank you for the wonderful information. My mother-in-police was simply request me if nosotros could aid clean and straighten her grandmother's headstone. I know I have info on leveling a headstone but did not have this information.

Raitu Disong on July 23, 2013:

Hello Kdeus, this is a very useful hub!

Thank you for sharing:)

marion langley from The Study on July 03, 2013:

Thank-yous for the helpful encouragments to use a piffling elbow grease safely. The pictures were great! voting up!

Keely Deuschle (writer) from Florida on July 02, 2013:

Spraying annihilation on a rock, even if it'due south labeled as safe, would definitely make me nervous, specially if it'due south left at that place to wash off by itself. I don't have showtime hand knowledge most that product, but will take to look into before I'd experience comfortable acknowledging it'due south okay. There are several types of non-ionic soaps that can be used, but unless the readers commencement thoroughly researched which "specific" ones are prophylactic, I did not want to suggest using them since one kind may be okay, while a like one may not be.

denisefenimore on July 01, 2013:

There is also a product chosen 'Moisture and Forget'. Spray i and allow the air current and pelting slowly practise the work. Very safe, just not instant results.

Keely Deuschle (writer) from Florida on June 29, 2013:

Hullo LensMan999, Thanks! I hope this guide helps a lot of people! I've seen also many people damage stones past using things that should never be used! Thank you again!

LensMan999 from Trans-Neptunian region on June 25, 2013:

Cleaning an old headstone has now go very like shooting fish in a barrel through your hub. Y'all have provided with simple instructions that can exist applied easily. Thank you a lot for sharing this wonderful hub.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on June 23, 2013:

Howdy Dream On! That would be an interesting idea!

Keely Deuschle (writer) from Florida on June 23, 2013:

Hi Oscarlites, You're more than than welcome! I hope this guide continues to aid equally you come up across more family unit burying plots!

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on June 23, 2013:

Thank you lot, Dream On! Take a great day!

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on June 23, 2013:

Thank you, FlourishAnyway! It is and so sad to walk into a cemetery that has non been taken care of, or fifty-fifty for those taken care of, how in dire demand of some TLC the headstones are. I'm glad that you find this guide useful! Thanks for stopping past!

FlourishAnyway from USA on June 14, 2013:

Great information. Especially with and so much involvement in genealogy, many people are going back to family plots that had been long forgotten and are finding them in disrepair. This provides some management in case they'd like to honor loved ones' memories with a clean-upwards.

DREAM ON on June 12, 2013:

What helpful tips in taking care of something so precious and sacred.Thanx so much.

Oscar Jones from Monroeville, Alabama on May 18, 2013:

Just recently, equally I take been involved in photographing family burial cemetaries. I meet some turn of the century markers that are already eroded to the point of beingness non-identifiable. thanks for the hints from heloise, oops, "hints from KDeus" !

DREAM ON on Feb 20, 2013:

I never gave headstones any idea.I would retrieve afterward all these years someone would of created a headstone cover to aid protect against the elements.This would of perserved some of the older graves that now we tin no longer come across because of erosion over the years.Take a skilful 24-hour interval.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on Jan 02, 2013:

Thank you lot, J.S.! I am glad that you plant this useful! I've heard of and so many people trying to clean stones using methods that volition impairment the stone, and so the more education that is out at that place to assist preserve our history, the longer these headstones will last!

JS Matthew from Massachusetts, The states on December 28, 2012:

This is an awesome guide. Very consummate. I have wondered what the best manner to clean memorials was. Up and shared.

JS~

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on December 12, 2012:

Thank you, peachpurple for commenting! Sometimes, if the moss doesn't come up off hands, even with the plastic scrapers (they wear away earlier they harm the stone), y'all tin even try a poultice that tin help to soften the moss and lichen even more!

Keely Deuschle (writer) from Florida on December 12, 2012:

Thank you, Millionaire Tips! I do the aforementioned as you exercise when I photo markers for transcribing a cemetery. I keep a "cemetery pocketbook" in my car with all my "tools" which includes several brushes I use to castor away clay, ant piles, etc. It took some time to become comfortable with cleaning a mark, likewise. Thank you for sharing your comments!

peachy from Dwelling house Sweet Home on December 12, 2012:

Useful tips on cleaning the headstone. Never idea so much nigh information technology. We ordinarily apply material and green scrubs with h2o to make clean off the moss. Thank you. Bang-up hub

Shasta Matova from Usa on December 12, 2012:

What a thorough well, formatted article almost how to clean headstones. When I accept photographs, I don't clean the headstones at all, except to gently brush away any leaves or debris so that I can take the photo. I am besides afraid of causing more damage than expert.