(Sterne Graves Before and After Cleaning)
The Do's and Don'ts of Cemetery Cleaning
DO
- Do no harm
- Check for damage or weaknesses that may mean the stone is too fragile to clean
- Select the gentlest cleaning method to accomplish the task, this means soft brushes and a gentle soap such as Orvus Paste
- Take safety precautions such as wearing gloves and safety glasses
DON'T
- Don't do anything that will remove or damage the surface of the stone, such as power washing or using wire brushes
- Don't use bleach, chlorine, Comet or other household cleaners. These products can damage the fragile composition of the stone, dissolve the stone surface, and leave deposits that further deteriorate the stone.
- Don't use harsh mechanical methods to clean the stone such as sand blasting or power tools
CEMETERY CLEANING SUPPLIES
- Water
- Buckets
- Protective Eye Wear
- Gloves (optional)
- Soft Brushes (Rule of Thumb: If you would not use them on your vehicle, then they are too rough for gravemarkers
- Gentle, non-salt soap such as Orvus
- Spray Bottle
- Biocide such as masonRE B+ or ReVive
Cathedral Stone - maker of masonRE B+
Prosoco - maker of ReVive
Oak Grove Cemetery Cleaning Workshop
HOW TO CLEAN STONES
1.Thoroughly wet stone
2.Starting at the bottom of the stone, spray with diluted Orvus, or other non-salt soap, mixture (approximately 1 Tablespoon of soap to 1/2 Gallon of water), and begin scrubbing with a soft bristled brush in circular motions
3.Rinse area once finished
4.Continue cleaning the rest of the stone being certain to keep the stone damp and brushes clean throughout the process, this prevents streaking and keeps dirty water and suds from being soaked into the stone
5.Spray stone with masonRE B+ or Biowash, allowing the chemical to soak into the stone a bit is optional. Give the stone another thorough scrubbing and rinse. These products continue removing biological growth for two weeks.
To see a video of a gravestone cleaning, watch this video of Jason Church of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training giving directions on how to properly clean a gravestone for the Preserve America Grant.
Click here to see a video of students at a cemetery cleaning workshop at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Examples of Cemetery Cleaning Workshop Materials:
Example of a Cemetery Cleaning Workshop Brochure
