Headstones, also called gravestones or tombstones, are typically placed to mark the burial places of beloved family members. Memorial stones are also placed in cemeteries in memory of loved ones who may have been buried elsewhere or who could not be buried for some reason.
The tradition of marking burial places dates back thousands of years. Different cultures have varying ways to honor their dead. From a simple mound, a pile of rocks, or a newly planted tree to carved markers of beautiful stone, grave markers are made of a variety of materials.
Headstones can also be a source of priceless genealogical information. They include names and dates. Often, members of the same family are buried near each other, which helps genealogical researchers verify names and dates with other historical records. Due to weather, nature, the passage of time, and other factors, gravestones can become eroded, dirty, covered in moss or other plants, broken, and unreadable. Unfortunately, if headstones are cleaned with improper materials, the cleaning can cause them to become even more permanently damaged.
Learning how to clean a headstone properly is vital to the longevity of these irreplaceable historical monuments. You can beautify the resting places of your ancestors without further damaging old and broken tombstones. Here’s what you should know.
Etiquette and Legal Permission
Cemeteries around the world have varied rules of etiquette and rules of law. If the tombstone is located in a public or church cemetery, make sure you have asked permission to clean it. In some municipalities, the headstones are owned by the people who purchased them, and the city does not have the right to allow others to come in and clean the grave site. Contact the cemetery or the church where the grave resides to determine whom you need to ask for permission. Don't clean any gravestones that you don't have appropriate permissions to clean.
Most cemeteries are places of reverence and quiet. Consider the best time to do your cleaning so as not to disturb others who might be visiting a memorial.
Assessing the Condition of the Tombstone
Assess the condition of the tombstone or headstone before you begin the cleaning process. Does it have damage? Is it flaking, split, or otherwise compromised? There is an easy way to check for stress cracks, which might be hard to see initially. Wet the stone with clean water, and watch it while it is drying. As it dries, the cracks will show up as wet streaks. If this process reveals cracks in the tombstone or if damage is significant, you would be better off leaving it alone so as not to cause more damage.
A good rule of thumb is that if you have even the slightest bit of doubt as to the stability of the headstone, just leave it alone.
What Old Tombstones Are Made Of
If you want to know how best to clean a headstone, you will want to determine what it is made of. Many early headstones were made with slate or sandstone. Other common materials might include wood, concrete, limestone, marble, iron, bronze, and granite.
Some things to consider:
- Sandstone is very porous and easily erodes and flakes with time.
- Marble is soft and porous and sensitive to acids and harsh chemicals.
- Slate is more durable, but it can also be brittle, causing splits along natural lines.
- Granite is a very hard stone and is very durable. It is the preferred stone today for headstones because it resists weathering. It is better able to handle cleaning products.
A Tombstone-Cleaning Toolkit
Once you have determined the material used to make the tombstone and have assessed its condition, it is time to gather your tombstone-cleaning supplies.
Create your own tombstone cleaning kit with the following items:
- Soft-bristle brushes
- Wooden or plastic scrapers
- Distilled water
- Orvus paste
- D/2 Biological Solution (used for biological growth)
- Buckets
- Spray bottles
- Soft cloths of natural material (cotton cloth works great)
- Garden hose (if allowed and available)
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Bug spray
Things to Avoid
Here are some tools and materials that may inadvertently cause damage to headstones:
- Power tools such as power washers or sanders
- Hard metal tools
- Wire brushes and abrasive pads
- Bleach or acid-based cleaners
- Shaving cream
- Typical household cleaners (The only exception is Dawn dish soap and ammonia-free glass cleaner, which can be used to clean granite headstones.)
Try to avoid cleaning in extremely hot or cold weather. Putting cold water on hot stone can cause stress fractures in the stone. Additionally, if there is a chance of freezing temperatures, hold off until the temperatures get a little warmer. Freezing water may also cause cracks and splits.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Old Tombstones
Keeping in mind what the tombstone is made of and the laws and etiquette in your area, it’s time to begin the cleaning process. You might consider different methods when cleaning older tombstones.
When selecting cleaning materials, make sure the chemicals will not damage the type of stone the headstone is made of. You may need to do some additional research on your own to determine which cleaner will be best for the specific headstone you want to clean.
Don’t put any chemicals on a headstone if you don’t know how that chemical will react with the stone. Most of the time, clean water is all you’ll need.
Step 1: Wet the Stone
Make sure you have brought enough clean water with you. Thoroughly wet the tombstone with water. Getting the stone wet will help prevent or minimize chemicals that might be absorbed into porous surfaces. Clean water is the first step in removing surface dirt and debris.
Step 2: Remove Loose Debris
Use a soft-bristle brush to gently remove moss, dirt, leaves, and lichen. Lichen is a type of dual organism (fungus and algae) that is often found on old headstones. You can use a wooden or plastic scraper if the buildup is significant, but continue to be gentle.
Step 3: Apply Cleaning Solution, and Gently Scrub
Test the cleaner you are going to use on the stone before continuing with the entire process. You might consider testing a small area and then letting it dry completely to see how it looks.
Using your soft-bristle brush, rag, or soft sponge, gently scrub the headstone in a circular motion. Don’t press too hard. You can always go over it again if you need to. Keep the surface of the stone wet while you clean.
Don’t use metal tools for scrubbing because they can scratch, chip, and damage the headstone.
As you scrub the stone, clean it from the bottom, and move upward. This process may seem counterintuitive because you will have dirty water dripping down areas you've already gone over. What the process does is ensure that the stone is saturated before dirty water comes over the surface, thus helping prevent streaking from the cleaning process.
Which Cleaner Can I Use?
Experts recommend using the mildest possible option when it comes to using chemicals to clean stone. In many cases, clean water without any soap will be sufficient. You can use a nonionic cleaner, such as Orvus paste, as a cleaning agent. There are various methods of applying the paste. Follow the directions on the paste container for best practices. Be sure to rinse off all the paste with water.
After the initial clean, the stone may still have moss or lichen clinging to it. In this case, you can use a biocidal cleaner (such as D/2 Biological Solution) to remove the rest of the biological material. Follow the instructions on the cleaner's container carefully. If you use a biocide, it may take several days or even weeks to see the full effect of the cleaning. Don't be worried if you see an orange color appear on the stone after you apply a biocide. This coloring is caused by the biological growth on the stone dying, and it will usually disappear in time.
Step 4: Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse the stone thoroughly with clean water. This step is the most vital of all. Leaving chemicals on the stone is a sure way to damage it. To be safe, rinse the stone with water multiple times. You can also use a clean cloth to make sure you are able to get all the cleaning solution off.
Step 5: Drying
It is best to let the old stones dry naturally. Letting the stone dry naturally can take several days, depending on the depth of the pores and weather conditions.
Step 6: Reassess
Don’t be in a hurry to get the stone perfectly clean with this first pass. It might be tempting to wet the stone again and scrub away, but the chemicals used can work over a period of weeks. Come back in several days or even a couple of weeks to see if the stone needs another going over.
Cleaning Granite Stones
The newer granite stones often used today are made of some of the hardest stones available. Granite can be wet with clean water and gently scrubbed with Dawn dish soap. Dry it with a clean microfiber cloth, or let it dry naturally. When it has completely dried, you can use an ammonia-free glass cleaner to give it a streak-free shine. Don’t use this method on stones that are not made of granite.
How Frequently Should a Tombstone Be Cleaned?
Several considerations factor into determining how often to clean a treasured tombstone:
- What is the stone made of?
- How old is the stone?
- How damaged is the stone?
- What are the environmental conditions?
Many experts agree that cleaning a headstone with anything more than a soft brush should be done only every 7 to 10 years.
Consider the environmental conditions that might affect cleaning the headstone. If a headstone is in a sunny area, it may not need to be cleaned as often as a headstone under a tree, where sap and bird droppings can cause extra staining.
Cleaning family tombstones is a wonderful way to show respect and love for loved ones. It is not only a tribute to someone you love, but also a way to beautify and preserve something for the whole community. Understanding how to best clean old and new tombstones will help ensure these special monuments endure for future generations.
Visit Your Ancestors’ Tombstones
Visiting the burial places of your ancestors can be a meaningful way to connect with them. Are you wondering where your relatives are buried? You can use the cemetery search tool to find them. You can search with a specific cemetery name as well as the names of your loved ones. You never know what you might discover!
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