How to clean a headstone

Memorials are a beautiful and peaceful place for your family to remember your treasured loved one. As such, keeping the gravestone clean and the surrounding area tidy is incredibly important. Understanding how best to clean a gravestone can be difficult, as you’ll want to ensure that any steps you take won’t cause damage. Read on to find out why you should take extra consideration before cleaning headstones, as well as other ways to keep your family’s memorial looking great for years to come. 

Before cleaning a headstone 

When cleaning a headstone, you’ll want to consider whether it could do more damage than good. Depending on the age, location, material and finish, headstones can be tricky to clean, so you’ll need to choose your equipment carefully. Some headstones can be cleaned with soap and water, whilst others may require more specialist equipment. If you are planning on giving it a light clean, basic cleaning items should include: 

• A bucket with clean water 
• Soft clean rags or cloths 
• A soft, non-metal brush 
• A toothbrush or detail brush for cleaning grout or intricate carvings 

Do you need permission to clean a gravestone?

Before cleaning a headstone, you should make sure that you have the necessary permission from the family. If you’re a direct family member, it’s likely that you will already have an understanding around your responsibilities for maintaining the grave site. However, if you are a close friend or frequent visitor, you should always get permission from the family before cleaning or making any changes to the memorial. 

How to clean a headstone without damaging it

It is easy to unintentionally damage a headstone whilst trying to clean it. Older headstones are particularly susceptible to damage, and whilst it may be tempting to give the headstone a quick wipe down, we would generally discourage this. The lettering and painting on gravestones can be particularly tricky to clean, and will often need to be repainted by a professional. Take into consideration the further costs that may be associated with this process, and carefully weigh up whether cleaning a gravestone is likely to cause more damage than good. 

How to clean a granite headstone

Granite headstones are particularly durable and as a result can be easier to clean than other, more porous materials. Simple cleaning efforts could include soaking the headstone in soapy water to loosen dirt and debris, before using a brush to scrub the surface in circular motions. This process will likely need to be repeated several times. 

Granite headstones, such as our black granite headstone, can have different finishes that may affect how you clean the headstone. Headstones with a polished finish could be scratched or damaged by harsh scrubbing or cleaners, so avoid using corrosive cleaning products or coarse brushes. Whilst granite headstones are less likely to be impaired by cleaning, if the polished surface has been worn away over time they can become more susceptible to damage. In this scenario, it’s safest to opt for a professional re-face and re-polish service. 

How to clean a marble headstone

Marble headstones are more porous than other headstone materials, so added care should be taken. To clean a marble headstone, soak using warm soapy water, before using a gentle brush to scrub any areas that may need extra attention. 

White marble headstones are a popular choice due to their classic, sophisticated look. To keep them looking pristine, clean sparingly to avoid damaging the headstone’s finish, avoiding engravings or lettering as if damaged during the cleaning process these can be costly to repair. Whilst we understand that it is tempting to deep-clean the stone, it’s best to avoid cleaning headstones wherever possible to ensure that your family can continue to enjoy the memorial for years to come. 

How to clean a limestone headstone 

Despite being known for their durability, cleaning limestone headstones such as a nabresina headstone can result in scratches to the surface, which may even chip over time. You can use warm water with a cloth of soft brush to lightly buff the top layer of dirt off, but you should avoid hard bristle brushes or corrosive cleaners, as these could damage the stone.

If you decide to clean a limestone headstone, then take care to avoid any lettering or painted areas, as cleaning could deteriorate the quality of the painting and etchings. Remember, limestone headstones are significantly more expensive than other headstone materials, so if damaged they could be costly to repair. 

Headstone restoration 

If you want to give a headstone a refresh, there are many ways that you can restore a headstone to its former glory, without risking damage when cleaning it. If you’re currently in the process of choosing a headstone, you can take into consideration which materials last the longest and are the least affected by weathering. 

There are other memorial accents that can be added to a headstone in order to keep it looking beautiful for longer. You can use memorial flower vases to ensure that the flowers at the site are always looking fresh and elegant. If you’re unable to frequently visit the memorial to remove old flowers, then consider using synthetic plants which will look stunning all year round. Instead of bringing paper or laminated photos to add to the memorial, which can often fade or disintegrate in bad weather, consider choosing a memorial photoplaque or portrait etching that will stand the test of time. You can also make use of memorial cleaning and renovation services, entrusting experts that specialise in renewing older headstones. 

At Memorials of Distinction, we offer a range of headstone materials, colours and finishes, so that you can find the perfect style for your family. Request a brochure to find out more about what we have to offer, or get in touch and one of our friendly and professional team will be happy to assist you.