What Words Do You Put on a Headstone

I have been a genealogist for over 25 years, and I honor those whose graves I come across in cemeteries.

How to Clean Old Headstones / Gravestones

Keely Deuschle

How to Clean a Gravestone: Play a Little Part in Preserving the Past

Cemeteries are where many of us choose as our final resting place. It is the place where our loved ones will return to pay their respects to us. But as time passes, the headstone marking where we rest may become worn, discolored, covered with lichen, or even broken.

If you've been to a cemetery to visit a loved one, you probably noticed many stones, especially older ones, in desperate need of repair or at least a good cleaning. Some may be worn beyond readability, as well. We can take steps to ensure that the place that marks where our loved ones lie can be taken care of so that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren can continue to pay respect to our ancestors.

You may think that because the cemetery is a perpetual care cemetery, the headstones would be maintained under that care. However, perpetual care usually provides for keeping of the grounds and regular maintenance of the overall cemetery. This may include cutting grass, planting and caring for trees, road maintenance, drainage, and sometimes straightening of the markers.

Perpetual care cemeteries really only came into existence about 75 years ago, and, sadly, many old cemeteries have been lost. Even for those old ones that are maintained, more often than not, the stones are in desperate need of help.

The steps below will help you in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to prevent further damage to the gravestone.

Types of Headstones

Most headstones are made up of natural stones that are comprised of salts and minerals. The most common types of headstones existing today are made of sandstone, granite, marble, and limestone. Due to its ease of maintaining a cemetery, flat bronze markers are becoming more popular in cemeteries, especially memorial parks.

The natural stone tombstones can withstand varying degrees of cleaning, with most early ones being able to tolerate very little. Limestone and sandstone are very soft stones and were used a lot in early cemeteries because they were easy to carve. (The Mohs hardness scale rates it having a hardness of 3–4.)

Unfortunately, gravestones made from these types of stone often wear away faster, with many very old ones being no longer readable; this is due to the many environmental conditions that they're exposed to. Additionally, for many sandstone markers, water or moisture would accumulate in its cracks, and when temperatures dropped, freezing conditions would cause the stone to crack or break.

Marble was primarily used for headstones and monuments prior to the 1920s. Its hardness is rated between a 4 and 7. It is basically a recrystallized form of limestone. Some preferred marble because it withstood the elements slightly better than limestone and sandstone but was still fairly easy to carve. The beautiful veining pattern was also a great draw. Unfortunately, environmental elements also affect marble, and as a result, many cemeteries no longer permit marble headstones for outside markers.

The hardest of the natural stone type of monuments that you will see in a cemetery is granite, which is still widely used today. Granite has a hardness of between 7 and 9 and can withstand a little more cleaning than the other types of natural stone; however, it still must be a very gentle cleaning. Most of the upright stones made today are created from granite.

Remember, it's not only the stone itself we need to preserve, but what is carved on the stone. After all, that is how we will all know who rests beneath.

Before you head out to the cemetery, be sure to have some basic supplies with you. These supplies include:

Jugs of distilled water (or garden hose if water access is available)
Spray bottle/garden sprayer (new, never used for any type of chemical)
Natural bristle brush or nylon brush, varying sizes and stiffness
Firm toothbrush
Sponges
Craft sticks (to gently remove lichens)

Take Precautions Before Cleaning a Headstone

Before you attempt to clean a headstone, you must first check its condition. If there is evidence of any of the following, do not proceed with cleaning:

Any stability issues whatsoever
The stone or lettering has any evidence of flaking or parts of the stone falling away
Fractures anywhere on the stone
If anything even slightly suggests that the headstone is fragile or even slightly vulnerable
If gently tapping the stone or the base results in any hollow sound
A wooden headstone

If the condition of the stone appears to be okay, keep in mind the following basic suggestions when beginning to clean a headstone. It is important to note, that if the only reason to clean a stone is to remove lichens, algae, etc., it is not necessary as it may do more harm to the stone than good.

Cleaning headstones is a wonderful way to play a small role in preserving history.

Official U.S. Navy Imagery, CC-BY, via flickr

So, How Do You Clean a Headstone?

Using water with different kinds and sizes of natural bristle brushes will require some patience, but it is the most natural and safest way to clean stones.
To begin, thoroughly saturate the headstone with water. By using a spray bottle or even a pump sprayer, you can use less water and ensure a clean rinse each time.
Begin cleaning the stone starting at the bottom and work upward. This will help to prevent any streaking and/or any additional staining from occurring than if you worked from the top down. Be sure to rinse the area cleaned often with the water.
It is best to begin cleaning with the softest brushes possible and only gradually move to stiffer natural bristle brushes if needed. Remember, never use a wire or metal brush.
If there are lichens or moss growing on the stone, gently scrape it with your wooden or plastic scrapers. Oftentimes, it will come off fairly easily; other times, it may need to be repeated.
When using a brush on the stone, use random circular motions, which also helps with keeping streaking at a minimum.
It is possible to use non-ionic soaps to further aid in the cleaning, but the types that can be safely used are minimal. Unless you thoroughly research the type(s) and how to use it, do not use anything other than water and gentle brushing.
Rinse the cleaned area often and thoroughly rinse it when you've completed the cleaning of the headstone.
Repeat for all sides of the marker.

What Not to Do When Cleaning a Headstone

When you follow the steps above, you'll be well on your way to preserving someone's marker longer.

What we do not want to do is anything that will accelerate the wearing of the stone, discoloring of the stone, etc.

What You Should Not Use to Clean a Headstone

Wire bristled brushes
Metal anything
Abrasive pads
Pressure washers
Sandblasters
Power tools
Bleach
Acid or acidic cleaning agents (especially on marble or limestone) - should only be used by those properly trained working on non-calcareous stone ^[1]
Household cleaners including soap, detergents, Borax, TSP, anything you'd use to clean your home ^[1]
Any type of sealant

Cleaning Headstones Is a Small but Important Way to Preserve History

So, now you have basic guidelines that will assist you in helping to maintain the headstones of your loved ones. Remember, though, that despite your best efforts, tombstones will rarely look new again. And for certain types of stones, such as marble, limestone, and sandstone, it is recommended that they not be cleaned more than once every ten years since each time a stone is cleaned, it essentially washes a small layer away.

I believe it's important to get our children involved and help them to understand the importance of keeping up the resting place of our loved ones; after all, they're the generation that will be keeping up ours.

Take A Quiz

For each question, choose the best answer. The answer key is below.

Is it okay to pressure wash a headstone?
- Yes
- No
What is the best kind of brush to use when cleaning a headstone?
- Wire bristled brush
- Natural bristle brush
Which is the best direction to clean a headstone?
- Start at the top and work your way down.
- Start at the bottom and work your way up.
What kind of cleaning agents can be used to clean a headstone?
- Bleach
- Acidic cleaning agents
- Water

Answer Key

No
Natural bristle brush
Start at the bottom and work your way up.
Water

Interpreting Your Score

If you got between 0 and 1 correct answer: I'd highly recommend going back and reading through the article again before heading to the cemetery. Utilizing the incorrect methods could cause faster degradation to a headstone. Come back to the quiz and try again!

If you got 2 correct answers: I'd encourage you to read through the article again before heading to the cemetery. Utilizing the incorrect methods could cause faster degradation to a headstone.

If you got 3 correct answers: Pretty good score. Be sure to go back and read through the section for the question(s) you missed before heading to the cemetery. Utilizing the incorrect methods could cause faster degradation to a headstone.

If you got 4 correct answers: Perfect score! You have a great understanding of what you should and shouldn't do when cleaning a headstone. Many people utilize incorrect methods which can cause a headstone to degrade quicker. Enjoy helping to preserve your loved ones' headstones!

References

^[1] Walther, Tracy C. Review and Evaluation of Selected Brand Name Materials for Cleaning Gravestones.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Eileen Buckham on September 16, 2019:

Gold writing is fading it's 15years old can anything be done please

Mattosmonuments.com on April 23, 2019:

Thank you so much for putting out such quality information. As a retailer of monuments and headstones in the bay area, people always try to just go at the stone thinking its just rock. These are delicate pieces of art, thanks for showing the love you need to keep these headstones beautiful. www.mattosmonuments.com

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on July 10, 2018:

Lou Parks, putting a stone back together would be something to talk to a monument company or someone who specializes in that sort of thing. I won't recommend attempting to reassemble one without professional help as to not further damage the stone.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on July 10, 2018:

John Dove, I belong to a few, but I do recording of cemeteries locally and sometimes when I travel. And yes, I am on Find A Grave.

We have a very large cemetery here with almost 90,000 burials going back to early 1800s. Whenever I do photo requests for Find A Grave, I record the entire section of the cemetery and add them to Find A Grave. I don't, however, clean the stones there as they provide that service to families.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on July 10, 2018:

Gloria, no! Please don't paint or put anything on the stone! Anything, including chalk, flour, etc, should not be added to a stone. And rubbings using paper and pencil or crayon should not be used.

One thing you may be able to try is to very carefully place aluminum foil over the headstone. Do not affix tape to the headstone, rather affix it to other aluminum foil. The thinner aluminum foil is best. Then, very gently, using a small brush such as a makeup brush or other small brush, gently brush over the areas where the lettering is and you'll get a relief of the stone which can help you read it.

Another thing to try is to photograph it with light coming from different directions. In photography, lighting straight on (such as with a flash) will make everything seem flat and the depth of the lettering will not be as visible. Try lighting from different angles or different times of day.

Gloria on July 10, 2018:

Is it OK to retrace the writing with dark paint so, it stands out?

lou parks on July 06, 2018:

how do you put old markers back to geather

John Dove on October 17, 2017:

Great Hub! You must have an ample supply of patience as well. Are you associated with any organization, e.g., genealogical society, that has a project the recording of cemeteries? Are you active on findagrave.com?

dick hohenbrink dhohenbrink@ymail.com on July 28, 2017:

Thank You for Your article. I have been noticing Markers being painter{ Old Sandstone} Can You give any input on the subject. My Grand Parents marker is from the late 1890 . Thank You.

Shelby Hinson on July 06, 2017:

I'm not sure, but I think the monument in question is granite or soapstone . It is the gravestone of my great grandfather who was in the Great Civil War.

ALISTAIR BAKER on September 09, 2016:

Thanks for the info. I am researching my family here in the UK, and have found various head stones dating back to the mid 1880's. They all seem to be of a sandstone variety, some very well preserved due to location in cemetery, ie protected from the elements. Others have not been so lucky, worn and faded letters , plus cracked and eroded faces.

I will follow your instructions on the more durable ones and see what results I get. Good point to ask for permission from Local Authority/Town Council before progressing. Because of age they may well be protected and you could fall foul of local byelaws. So will make the call this Monday and start the ball rolling or not.Regards

Jim mc neill on August 14, 2016:

Would Oxyclean work

SmurfsAunt on May 12, 2016:

You should never ever use any type of brush on any type of headstone.

Louise Greene on April 07, 2016:

Thanks for this article. I have a stone to clean and had no idea how to go about it.

Corie Neumayer on March 17, 2015:

We discovered an old family tombstone...granite or sandstone . The words are flaking off. Is there anything we can do to preserve what is left?

Joe Fiduccia from Monroe County, PA on February 01, 2015:

This is honestly something I had never given much thought to. I appreciate the detail you went into, and will even ne sure to share your advice with our dad in Poland, who cares for several headstones that are in serious need of a face lift. Thank you!

RWW on October 21, 2014:

I have been cleaning and restoring old grave markers for a number of years. When the product Wet and Forget became available [in the USA] I was skeptical about using it on old sandstone or marble markers. I talked to the technical folks at Wet and Forget. I tried it on some old marble foot markers. It was very effective with no damage. It takes 3-6 months to see results and the results are dramatic.

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on January 16, 2014:

Vivian-tmt-hnp, thank you for your kind words!

Keely Deuschle (author) from Florida on January 16, 2014:

Hi LWhip, very, very true, especially with carved wood markers. I don't know if you had seen the other hub I wrote about recording a cemetery, but especially in a case like yours, this is something that might be helpful if it doesn't already exist.

LWhip on January 14, 2014:

Interesting article. Many of the old grave markings in our family cemetery are carved wood so we are very reliant on oral and recorded history, some of which is unfortunately incomplete now.

Vivian-tmt-hnp from USA. on August 16, 2013:

8:21am Friday 16 August 2013

Dear KDeus,

I really appreciate your sincere and precious essay.

Vivian