Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned.
Marble monument cleaning.
Inspect the entire headstone for cracks wear and signs of damage.
This is the opposite of an all to common assumption that extreme measures given the contaminants should be used on exterior marble cleaning.
Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work.
You want to keep the marble wet throughout the cleaning process by continually wiping the marble headstone with a cloth and clean water.
Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage.
Best way to clean a headstone.
Steps to clean a marble headstone.
How to clean a marble headstone.
Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present.
Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface.
How to clean marble headstones.
If these are present it may be best to leave it as is.
Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution.
Due to the natural ageing and weathering process you probably won t return the marble or granite to its perfect original condition however.
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.
Conservator angus lawrence supplies a brief expert introduction to the cleaning of historic marble monuments.