Cleaning Old Marble Headstones

Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution.

Cleaning old marble headstones.

Most common gravestones are likely to be sandstone slate marble limestone or granite although there are many other possible options. In knowing how to clean a marble headstone properly you adopt the gentlest least invasive practices to preserve the longevity of the stone. This is the opposite of an all to common assumption that extreme measures given the contaminants should be used on exterior marble cleaning. Different types will require different cleaning methods.

When the product wet and forget became available in the usa i was skeptical about using it on old sandstone or marble markers. Pre wet the stone with clean water. You want to keep the marble wet throughout the cleaning process by continually wiping the marble headstone with a cloth and clean water. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface.

How to clean marble headstones. Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned. Steps to clean a marble headstone. I have been cleaning and restoring old grave markers for a number of years.

Inspect the entire headstone for cracks wear and signs of damage. 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. I talked to the technical folks at wet and forget. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.

Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. I tried it on some old marble foot markers. Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work. If these are present it may be best to leave it as is.

Clean a marble gravestone. Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite. If there is growth remove using a wooden scraper. Regardless of what kind of stone you are cleaning the first rule is always to be as gentle as possible.