How do you clean a headstone at the cemetary?

[Mkrop]

Yesterday may family and I went to the cemetary for my dad's 15th anniversary of his death. His headstone is one that is in the ground. We cleaned it up as best we could with the brushes that you clean snow off from the car and it looks a lot better but I was wondering if there was any other way to get some of the grime off it? thanks

 

[RNMOM]

You might ask the cemetary what they suggest but I would be careful of the products you use due to damaging the grass. You wouldn't want to cause a big bald area from the cleaning supplies.

I would probably try a very mild gentle soap solution and a stiff scrub brush. Maybe Murphy's oil soap or even dish liquid. Nothing with bleach or ammonia or salts. They would kill the grass. Elbow grease is probably going to work best.

 

[Amlee]

Coke and a soft tooth brush.

When I go looking for old family tombstones, I always pack a bottle of coke and a tooth brush to clean off the yuck that is on them. It's the best and the safest.

 

[L107ANGEL]

Coke and a soft tooth brush.

When I go looking for old family tombstones, I always pack a bottle of coke and a tooth brush to clean off the yuck that is on them. It's the best and the safest.

Wow!!! Thats one I never heard of but will remember. Thanks!

 

[kmebee]

Coke and a soft tooth brush.

When I go looking for old family tombstones, I always pack a bottle of coke and a tooth brush to clean off the yuck that is on them. It's the best and the safest.

Wow! That's a great idea. Thanks. I was going to suggest, as another poster did, some soapy water and a stiff brush. Trimming the grass back sometimes helps with keeping some grime off during the summer. That first visit when the weather gets nice is always the toughest for getting the dirt and junk off.

 

[Mkrop]

yeah it is always the yuckiest after winter but my brother went a month ago and cleaned it up a bit but we have had some very heavy rains that undid what he tried to do.

How scary that we actually drink that stuff and you are telling me to use it to clean grime off a headstone, I am sure it works though, I have heard other "things" to do with Coke as well.

 

[AprilShowers]

DH suggests Dawn dishsoap, hot water and a stiff brush. Don't use a wire one cause you can scratch the granite.

You can also call a local monument dealer and they will professionally clean the stone for you for a small fee.
We do loads of these cleanings, and DH uses special stone-cleaning chemicals. They come out looking great!
(But for do it yourself-ers, he reccomends the dawn. He won't give out or sell the stone-cleaning stuff to the general public.)

 

[Amlee]

Coke you can drink it, clean off a tombstone, clean your windshield, clean your battery cables, and make a tooth disappear!

I do alot of family genealogy, so I come across a lot of dirty tombstones. On the net I came across a list of items for a genealogy field kit. Coke and a tooth brush was on the list for cleaning the tombstones. I tried it a few tries and it really works great.