Guide For Cleaning Granite Headstones

13 May.,2024

 

Guide For Cleaning Granite Headstones

Guide For Cleaning Granite Headstones

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Granite is the most popular material for headstones. It is an excellent type of stone that is abundant and comes in a variety of different crystalline colors and textures. It deteriorates slower comparatively to other stones such as marble and limestone, resulting in a longer preservation lasting a few hundred more years. If you have a memorial headstone for your loved one that has been corroded or damaged, resulting in a tarnished appearance then this guide will help you restore the stone back to the original look.

7 Steps To Clean A Granite Grave Monument

When you are planning to clean a cemetery headstone of your loved one, you must take the following tools to the cemetery:

  • A clean bucket
  • Dishwashing liquid (do not use any ammonia, vinegar or lemon cleaner).
  • 4 liters of water.
  • Cotton swabs for cleaning incrustations and engravings.
  • 2 clean rags to wash the tombstone.
  • 2 clean white cloths to dry and polish the headstone (for example, cloth diaper or microfiber cloth).

Steps To Clean A Granite Headstone

Only clean the granite headstone when needed.

STEP 1: Remove Excess Debris

Before starting to clean the granite grave monument, remove excess dirt on or around the affected area.

STEP 2: Wash The Granite Grave Monument With Soapy Water

Take a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a bucket filled with 2 liters of water. Do not use any ammonia, vinegar or lemon cleaner because the acid components will devour the surface of the granite. Next soak a clean cloth in soapy water and drain the cloth several times to remove excess water. Finally, clean the granite grave monument thoroughly. You have to repeat this process several times, depending on how dirty the tombstone is.

STEP 3: Wash The Granite Grave Monument With Clean Water

To avoid accumulation of soap on the granite grave monument in the course of several cleaning sessions, you should wash it with clean water after removing the foam. After emptying the bucket of soapy water, pour two liters of clean water on it. Wash the headstone several times with another clean cloth or rag.

STEP 4: Dry The Granite Grave Monument

When you finish washing the granite grave monument, use a clean white cloth to dry it. Most soap will leave streaks, if the granite grave monument does not dry immediately.

STEP 5: Clean Any Incrustation And Etching

Use the cotton swabs to clean the corners. After submerging the cotton swab in soapy water, gently scrape any accumulation of dirt in the narrow spaces. You need several swabs to completely clean all the incrustations and engravings.

STEP 6: Make Sure You Have Removed All Excess Material

Due to the nature of granite headstones, it is possible that some stains remain hidden as they are not apparent to the naked eye. However, if you return a clean, dry cloth over the surface, you may be able to detect stubborn remains that may have been missed.

STEP 7: Polish The Granite Grave Monument

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Use a new, dry white cloth to polish the granite grave monument, this will ensure there are no streaks which will improve the finish and shine of the tombstone. Do not use the same fabric as used in Step 3, this may leave streaks on the granite slab.

Unfortunately due to inclement weather and natural aging, not all stains, grudge, and other remaining specimens can be removed with a simple soap cleanse and water rinse. We do offer a professional headstone cleaning service at Kulinski Memorials combining various techniques and products including heavily sandblasting the initial surface depending on how deep the stain or material is into the granite.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Get Water Stains Off Granite Headstones?

One of the various questions we get asked frequently is why is my headstone a different color after the gravestone gets wet. Naturally since granite is a porous stone it lets water absorb into its surface like a sponge altering the look of the headstone temporarily.

Luckily granite is one of the least porous stones out there resulting in absorbing the least amount of water while also releasing water pretty quickly.

A few hours up to a day, expect your headstone to adjust back to the original natural color shade after a rainstorm.

Essential Considerations For Granite Headstone Cleaning ...

For many, a cemetery means a lot more than a final resting place for their loved ones. It serves as a holy site to preserve the memories of their family members and friends who are no longer with them. Cemetery headstones are available in various materials, including granite, marble, bronze, and more. Due to the increased importance of cemetery grave markers and tombstones, it’s vital to invest enough time and resources to maintain these precious stones to preserve their natural beauty properly.

Granite headstones and tombstones require considerably less maintenance, thanks to their enhanced durability. Softer stones such as marble and limestone require more maintenance. With time, these intricate stones still get damaged or discolored due to negligence. If not properly cared for, these gravestones can become covered with a high amount of dirt, debris, lichen, and other contaminants.

In the absence of regular monument cleaning, the lettering done on these stones can also become worn to the extent that they might not remain readable. To make sure you and future generations can keep paying respect to your ancestors, you will need to regularly clean, maintain, and restore your granite monuments.

Cleaning and maintaining a memorial stone may seem like an ordinary task for many; however, there are various factors involved in routine cemetery stone maintenance. Often, a headstone will show deterioration signs, which can turn into chips and flakes over time. When you notice these signs, avoid scraping or brushing the natural stone while cleaning it.

Steps For Routine Granite Headstone Maintenance

When cleaning a cemetery monument, the first thing to keep in mind is to be as gentle with the stone as possible. To effectively clean a memorial of surface dirt, follow these general guidelines:

Things you will need to bring with you to the cemetery:

  • A bucket
  • Dishwashing liquid (do not use ammonia, vinegar, or lemon cleaners as this may damage the monument)
  • Clean water (most cemeteries do not have water available)
  • Multiple rags for cleaning
  • A couple of microfibre cloths for drying (won’t leave “fuzzies”)

Follow these steps when cleaning and maintaining your granite monument:

  • Remove excess debris on or around the headstone (leaves, branches, grass)
  • Wash the headstone with soapy water. Soak a clean rag and wash over the monument’s surface. Wring out the rag and wipe the monument surface again, removing any excess dirt. You may have to repeat the process depending on how dirty the monument is.
  • Wash the monument with clean water and a rag – do not reuse the soapy water as you want to remove the soapy film from the memorial.
  • Dry the memorial stone with a microfibre cloth.

You may also use q-tips dipped in soapy water to clean the etchings/letterings/nooks. You may need several q-tips to clean these thoroughly. For mold or mildew, you can use a soft-bristled brush (not Metal) to scrape the mold or mildew away and then follow the above steps to complete the cleaning.

For badly stained or neglected memorials, the best way to ensure your granite or marble gravestone remains clean and legible is by hiring expert monument cleaning services. A professional memorial company will have adequate knowledge regarding monument cleaning methods and utilize the proper tools to maintain delicate grave markers.

Trust The Memorial Maintenance Professionals

The finest monument maintenance specialists will ensure your granite stone remains in its proper form and appearance using specialized memorial cleaning techniques and equipment. Marble and limestone can be damaged if cleaned with harsh chemicals. A professional memorial cleaner knows which chemicals are safe to remove dirt, moss, and other contaminants without damaging the stone. If the memorial’s engraving has faded, a professional company can re-hilite the letters to make them legible again.

About Summit Memorials

Summit Memorials helps its customers honor their loved ones with high-quality granite headstones throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. We offer expert monument cleaning and restoration services to our clients at affordable rates. Visit our website to learn more about us or contact us for personalized service.

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