How to Properly Clean Cemetery Monuments

It can be a dreary task to think about, but if you have loved ones buried in cemeteries, or even if you already have a headstone in place for when your time comes, keeping it clean is part of the maintenance it requires. Monuments are made of stone and pollutants can dull its natural luster. Worse yet, an accumulation of tree sap, bird droppings, algae and dirt can stain, and even shorten a headstone’s life span. So if you have at least one that you’re responsible for maintaining, you need to know how to properly clean cemetery monuments.

The first thing you need to do is to inspect the monument. If it’s in poor condition already, has flaking on its surface, cracks, or has weak or crumbly areas anywhere on it, then it’s best not to clean it.

If the monument is very old, or if it’s part of a special area of the cemetery, such as in a military section, then don’t attempt to clean it. Instead, contact the cemetery association to see what can be done. They may be able to recommend a certified conservator who can do the job for you.

As crazy as it may seem, you should talk to the cemetery association anyhow to make sure you don’t break any of their rules and regulations by cleaning your monument. Even though you or your family bought the plot as well as the headstone, the ground underneath it stills belongs to someone else.

Otherwise, if the monument is in good condition other than it’s extremely soiled, you can proceed on by doing a test run. Remember- no matter what material the headstone is made of, never clean it by using a high pressure washer, strong cleaning chemicals or abrasive, wire or metal scrubbers or scratchers.

Generally, cemetery monuments are made of granite, marble or another type of hard stone that can be easily cleaned. So the next step is to identify the soil and gather together the tools and cleaners you’ll need. Light soil can often be cleaned off with just a light washing and water. More stubborn grime can often be cleaned off with a soft-bristled brush and a mild cleaner. Avoid using household cleaners that contain sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate or ammonium carbonate. These chemicals can create salt deposits on the monument. Choose a product that’s biodegradable, non-corrosive and not abrasive.

The experts recommend using a “non-ionic” cleaner to clean a cemetery monument. This type of cleaner is a neutral cleaner that won’t form salt deposits. Non-ionic cleaners also wet the surface of the stone better which makes the removal of general dirt and grime easier. The best type of cleaner is PhotoFlo by Kodak®. Look for it at a photography supply store.

Now, this is where the “test run” comes into play. Before you begin to scrub the monument, choose a low, inconspicuous spot on it. Apply the mild cleaner and scrub the spot gently. Rinse it well with water, then inspect the spot to make sure the cleaner didn’t discolor, scratch or otherwise harm the surface of the headstone.

To properly clean a cemetery monument, make sure you have plenty of water handy to rinse it thoroughly before the cleaning solution dries. If there’s no water source near the gravestone, take a five-gallon bucket with you so you can carry water.

If a first application doesn’t completely remove the grime, repeat the process again. Just keep in mind that some grime can actually stain the stone and not be removed by cleaning it. Especially if the stone has never been cleaned, or if has been a long time since it’s last cleaning.

Note: Not only is it important to completely rinse cleaning solutions off of the monument, it’s also important to flush the cleaners away from it too. Because, since a headstone is set directly on the ground, and it’s made of a porous material, it naturally wicks up whatever is in the ground around it -cleaning solutions, herbicides, water- whatever.

If the monument has a nasty accumulation of algae or fungus on it, you may need to mix up a cleaning solution of household ammonia and water. Wear proper eye protection first before you begin to work with the household ammonia. Then, mix together a quarter cup of ammonia in a quart of water. Then pour the mixture into a spray bottle to use it. Spray and scrub the algae or fungus, then rinse the area with plenty of water. Repeat the process if the first application didn’t do the job.

Here’s an important trick to use that will help protect the monument from becoming stained from the cleaners: start at the bottom of the headstone and scrub and rinse a small area at a time. Then proceed upwards and around the stone until you have cleaned the entire monument.

And finally, use a suitable metal cleaner to remove dirt and grime from plaques and other attachment to the monument. You can use cotton swabs to reach inside engravings that are on the stone.