Q&A for How to Clean a Gravestone

No, you should never use bleach on a tombstone or similar stone monument. Stone is porous and can absorb the bleach, causing it to crystallize and potentially cause more damage than existing moss or lichen.

According to several tombstone conservation sites, you should avoid using soaps or detergents on marble, as they can damage the stone by being absorbed into its porous surface. Instead, use a product like D/2, which is recommended for cleaning monuments and is used on the White House. Apply it gently and let nature take its course for the safest cleaning. For heavy lichen or moss buildup, carefully remove it with a toothpick, tongue depressor, or paint stir stick.

Enamel paint is a good choice, and marine paint used for boats is also recommended for its weather-resistant properties.

The stains are often caused by algae, bacteria, mold, or mildew. While bleach might seem effective, it can harm the stone by being absorbed. Instead, using a cleaner like D2, which is safe and used on historical monuments, is recommended.

Contact the cemetery management to see if they can recommend any local conservationists. They can guide you on how to clean the rust properly while minimizing or avoiding damage to the stone.

Ensure the material is actually concrete, as this is not typically used for graves.

It's generally not recommended to use paint on gravestones, as it can damage the stone and is often not allowed in cemeteries.

Use a gentle cleaner like D/2 and soft-bristled brushes to clean a sandstone gravestone, as the stone is very soft and can be easily damaged by excessive force.

In my experience, a magic eraser works well on headstones with hard water stains, requiring minimal effort when used with water.

Placing live moss around a gravestone generally doesn't cause significant harm, but lichen can grow much faster and potentially damage the stone.

Its not advisable to use any kind of acid to clean a granite gravestone, and that includes vinegar. Granite is a porous stone, and acids can cause etching by getting into the fissures of the stone and dissolving small amounts of calcite that can then cause surface etching and damage.

For green slime or algae on a stone, first wet the stone all over. Then mix one cup of household ammonia with one gallon of water. Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the stone, then rinse again thoroughly with water.

D/2 Biological Solution is a non-acidic, nearly pH-neutral ammonium solution with surfactants in it, designed to clean without leaving behind any potentially-harmful chemical trail. It is the product of choice by many arms of the US government to clean its memorials and cemeteries.

It's best to spray diluted Wet & Forget, because it works gently, you don't have to scrub it at all, and it won't damage the stone.

Using a Magic Eraser on a marble or granite tombstone is generally not recommended. These erasers can be abrasive and might damage the delicate surface of the stone. Marble and granite are both susceptible to scratches and losing their polish.

You can use water, white chalk, or flour to highlight gravestone inscriptions. Water can enhance the visibility of inscriptions by wetting them, while rubbing white chalk or sprinkling flour over the inscriptions will fill in the recessed letters and make them stand out. These methods are temporary and reversible, avoiding harm to the stone.

Yes, Simple Green is a good choice for cleaning a gravestone as it's gentle yet effective.

After cleaning a gravestone, applying a glaze or sealant isn't typically recommended. These substances can trap moisture, leading to deterioration, or they might react negatively with the stone over time.

They usually keep the headstones. Even if they are overgrown or breaking down, headstones are kept to honor the dead and their families.

Vinegar, even diluted, is too acidic for the surface of most headstones. Instead, gently scrub the gravestone with water and a soft bristle brush.

Oxiclean is too harsh for smooth granite surfaces. Instead, gently scrub the headstone with a brush and water.

Avoid using household cleaners like baking soda, dish soap, or bleach. Baking soda is actually quite abrasive, and it will damage the surface of the granite.

Although you may have heard that you can naturally clean a gravestone by applying cuttlefish or snails to the surface, this isn't a great idea. It can take a long time for these natural agents to work and they may do damage throughout the cemetery grounds.

Using detergents on gravestones can be harmful as they accelerate the stone's wear and degradation. Stone is porous and absorbs liquids, leading to crystallization that damages the stone. Avoid using bleach, which is particularly harmful. Instead, consult cemetery management for advice or contact local conservation specialists for proper cleaning methods.

No. Limestone (and marble) are made of calcite (calcium carbonate). They weather easily in the presence of acids. Sandstone is essentially cemented quartz sand. While the quartz is hard, the cementing bonds are not, making the stone easy to engrave.

Water and gentle scrubbing. A really gentle cleaner might work too, but I usually just use water and some clean rags and or sponges.

Wet and Forget has not been tested for safety on gravestones. The manufacturer's safety data sheet has some questionable areas, so its safety cannot be confirmed.

No, it's best to use non-ionic cleaners like Orvus, which is available at farm and fleet stores and commonly used for washing horses.