Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned.
Marble monument cleaning.
Conservator angus lawrence supplies a brief expert introduction to the cleaning of historic marble monuments.
Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present.
Rinse and wipe the marble headstone once all of the debris has been removed by the soapy water mixture rinse the entire surface of the marble headstone thoroughly with clean water and a clean cloth.
Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work.
How to clean a marble headstone.
His article begins with an overview of the material s origins and historic uses before going on to focus on its durability and defects cleaning assessments the cleaning process and the application of protective surface coatings such as microcrystalline wax or limewash.
Due to the natural ageing and weathering process you probably won t return the marble or granite to its perfect original condition however.
Best way to clean a headstone.
How to clean marble headstones.
Inspect the entire headstone for cracks wear and signs of damage.
Steps to clean a marble headstone.
Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution.
Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface.
Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.
If these are present it may be best to leave it as is.
In knowing how to clean a marble headstone properly you adopt the gentlest least invasive practices to preserve the longevity of the stone.