The great thing about a homemade headstone cleaner is that you probably already have most of the ingredients in your home. Here are some of the most common household ingredients that you can use for headstone cleaning:

Halo does contain non-ionic surfactants which are electrically neutral cleaning agents that do not contribute to the formation of soluble salts. They provide better wetting of the stone surface and therefore speed up the removal of general soiling. Soak the headstone with water to maximize the effectiveness of your cleaner. You should try to keep the headstone wet throughout the cleaning process. That question has caused quite a commotion in the cemetery world. While this article focuses on cleaning granite headstones, it’s important to know how to work on cleaning any kind of headstone. Jump ahead to these sections: Hey there, you may be wondering why you’re reading an article about cleaning gravestones. But trust me, it’s a lot more interesting than it sounds. You see, headstones are like the tombstones of our loved ones and they deserve a little TLC every now and then. When you go to a cemetery, after deciding what to leave at a grave you’re visiting, you realize that the headstone of one of your relatives has lichen all over it. But before you start grabbing cleaning supplies and scrubbing away, you need to know the rules and follow them. They aren’t suggestions – headstones can easily be damaged.The most important part of cleaning a headstone or grave marker is to do everything possible to avoid damaging the memorial. Gravestones are often very expensive and are precious and irreplaceable memorials, so to somehow damage them while cleaning would be devastating. Because of these findings, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) developed a best practice recommendation in cleaning government-issued headstones. If it’s safe to work with, move on to Step 3. But don’t forget to take a “before” photo so you can compare it with an “after.” Step 3: Remove loose debris Sometimes the headstone you want cleaned is in a condition beyond what general cleaning can remedy. So you need to ask if it’s worth the risk to clean it. At a certain point, the lichen, moss, or other things that have grown on it are now part of the marker. Fighting lichen that has been growing in and on the stone for 100 years may not be a fight you can win without causing major damage. This will minimize some potential effects of the cleaner such as crystallization of salt in the stone. It also makes it easier to rinse the cleaner from the surface of the headstone.

Gravestones are made of many materials such as marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, bronze, slate, iron, concrete, and more. Each of these handle cleanings and subsequent cleaning products differently. If you’re making the effort to clean a headstone, you obviously want to do it right. Leave the bleach and household cleaners at home. They can stain the stone, eat away at its protective coating, or otherwise damage the monument. Don’t use natural, organic or biodegradable products, eitherThis is not intended to be a full statement of your rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Full details of your rights are available from your Local Authority’s Trading Standards Office. How To Return A Product Dirty that is on the headstone itself can be removed with the right cleaning product. For natural stone, you use HG headstone cleaning spray for example. Whatever product you use, if you use it to clean the headstone for the first time, it is a good idea to try it out in an inconspicuous place first. As stated, this product is highly recommended in cleaning headstones and monuments. Many professionals also use this solution because it is proven to effectively clean tombstones made from various materials.

Also, always see to it that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendation, especially the dilution ratio and dwell time. If you change these instructions, the effectiveness of the cleaning method may be affected. Just apply the cleaner evenly on the surface.For example, you wouldn’t clean a marble headstone the same way you would clean a granite headstone. Household cleaners like Borax, Spic and Span, and other cleaners with muriatic and phosphoric acid have strong acidic elements corrosive to headstones. Bleach is another ingredient that should not be used. If you were to cause damage to a grave marker you didn’t have written consent to clean, you could face criminal charges. Can I Clean a Grave Marker With Household Soap and Water? Bronze. You can use the steps above to clean a bronze grave marker, but you can add another step at the end by applying a wax paste to protect it.

On the other hand, if the headstone is in a sunny and dry area, it might be more prone to dust and dirt buildup.Now, I know what you’re thinking. Cleaning gravestones sounds like a tedious and difficult task. But that’s where this article comes in. We’ll be discussing the best DIY headstone cleaners that you can make using everyday household items. Identify the stained areas on the headstone. Add the baking soda to the dish soap in a medium-sized bowl. Slowly pour hydrogen peroxide into the bowl and mix it until the poultice has the texture of yogurt. Gravestones Bite the Dust.” National Center for Preservation Technology and Training , National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, 4 April 2018, www.ncptt.nps.gov/blog/gravestones-bite-the-dust/ Remember that you should only thoroughly clean sandstone and marble headstones every 7-10 years. Any more than that is too damaging to the stone. Ask your family and relatives if anyone has recently cleaned the headstone before you set out to do the task so you’ll avoid this risk.