How To Clean A Headstone | AK Lander

Gravestones are designed as a tribute to life, a constant reminder of a loved one which is aimed to stand the test of time. Although custom-made headstones are known for their natural hardiness., dedicated and regular cleaning will help the stone remain at its best for longer. If you’re searching for the best tips for how to clean a marble headstone or memorials in general, then read on to discover the best things you can do. here’s our complete cleaning guide for a headstone.

Start from the bottom up

If you are cleaning a memorial headstone we would recommend starting from the bottom and working up towards the top. This is because if you start cleaning a monument from the top, the acids released from the moulds you are scrubbing off can run down the façade of the stone and can lead to extra stubborn stains.

Should the stone need washing, always use natural clean water before patting it dry with a soft cloth to minimise water retention.

Do not use a pressure washer

While a pressure washer will almost certainly make the task of cleaning your headstone significantly easier, it isn’t at all recommended because it can lead to added water retention in the stone and therefore make it weaker over time. We would also not recommend using cleaning products with strong bristles, such as wire brushes or metal brushes, as this may scratch the stone and reduce its natural resistance to moisture.

We spoke to the team at Skyline Softwash, who offer a safe alternative to pressure washing. They told us: "Gravestones come in many different shapes, from beautiful, engraved marble to fantastic sculpted stone. Over time they can get covered in funk! Gravestones are not really dirty, they are in fact infested with micro orgasms. Fungus, mould, mildew and over time can decay the stone. To keep the funk at bay use SoftWash treatment the safe alternative to pressure washing. SoftWash kills the root of the funk and last 4-6 times longer than pressure washing."

Never use bleach

Bleach should absolutely never be used in the cleaning of gravestones; doing so can lead to serious damage to the stone, which can never be undone. This is because the bleach dissolves the outer layer of the stone as soon as it comes into contact with it, particularly in marble where it leaves a distinctly glossy surface after it has washed away – making the area look considerably out of place compared to the rest of the stone.

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