What do you use to clean Granite headstone?

Question

The engraved letters look like it was stained by mud. The marker is not as shiny as it was when it was new. I would like it to look new. Is there anything to keep it looking new?

Answer 1

Maybe this will help, just click on it.

http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/heloise/heloise/qas/0,,284583_291805,00.html

Answer 2

Please be very careful in your efforts to clean the old headstones. I can tell you that it is not an easy task. The ones that are very old will probably not have good results....and could be damaged greatly by applying certain cleaning agents. I know that over the years tree sap , lichen and environmental residue can really get a grip on headstones. My parents and husband are buried in a historical cemetery and a few years back a forrest fire raged through the area. The smoke damaged many of the headstones and nothing seemed to clean it. When we tried plain soap and water..it didn't even phase it....just made the surface area look like abrasions. My suggestion for you would be to call 2-3 monument companies and get their opinion and recommendations. Good luck with this!

Answer 3

Remember that headstones are subjected to all the weather elements. Granite is a good product and weathers well. Mud can be washed out with detegents and rinsed. I have also seen people power wash them.
Call the company that sold it and ask if they have a 'service' that cleans monuments/headstones. If not, the cemetery may offer that service.

Answer 4

I use mild soap, water, and an old (soft) toothbrush, along with "elbow grease". You may end up doing it a lot. Bring a mild soap and water solution with you in an old water bottle or jug.

If the inside of the engraved letters starts to chip off or disappear, get after the business who did the headstone engraving. They're supposed to use a better quality (read ALL-WEATHER) paint, not the el-cheapo stuff some of them use to cut costs.

Answer 5

I don't think, other then cleaning dirt off, there's anything you can use to clean off a granite headstone. Once the dirt is off you'd have to go to something more original like a sandblasting to brighten it and, I don't think they do that normally. They let it "age"

Answer 6

I have found (by accident, of course) that urine works real well. Must be the amonia in it or something.

Answer 7

jetsprayer -- works all the time when i use it on stone.