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How to Clean Headstones this Memorial Day

May 28, 2021

Home 9 Uncategorized 9 How to Clean Headstones this Memorial Day

Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, and often take a little time to clean and refresh family headstones, especially the stones for those who have served in the military.

The elements can wreak havoc on marble, granite and slate headstones and memorial monuments.

If you are looking to do a deep clean on your family monuments and markers, you can do basic upkeep of marble, granite and slate using the following tools.

DIY Headstone Cleaning Plan:

1. Bring a bucket
2. Pack some dishwashing liquid (do not use ammonia, vinegar, or lemon cleaners)
3. Water – most cemeteries have spigots on site
4. A soft toothbrush for cleaning lettering and decorative carvings
5. Rags or old towels for scrubbing
6. Fiber-free white cloths for drying and buffing the headstone (cloth diapers or microfiber rags work great)
Clean off debris, too much soap will leave a residue, so a dime-sized dab of soap on a sponge is generally sufficient at a time. For tough dirt, let the soap sit a little while to break up dirt, but not long enough to dry, then scrub.
 
Dry with a soft, clean cloth or dish towel, buff polished areas and shine as needed.

While there are many DIY solutions for gravestone cleaning online, our professional team can clean and restore your cemetery stones, veteran headstone markers and family mausoleums quickly, professionally and efficiently in time for Memorial Day.

At Boston Stone Restoration we take special care in professional cleaning and restoring stone common to New England cemeteries and memorials. We are especially good at restoring stone that is stained, suffering from the effects of pollution and/or organic growth.

Boston Stone Restoration can help with staining and grime such as:

  • Oxidation and environmental reactions
  • Grime & dirt
  • Algae, fungi, lichens, mosses
  • Stains including metallic, oils, etc.
  • Efflorescence (salts)

To set an appointment or get a quote call 781-793-0700 in MA, RI & NH or click here.

 

Get your project quoted today

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