​How to care for your stone after installation

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Now that you’ve purchased your stone, you’re likely wondering what the next steps are after installation. After all, all cemeteries and grave sites are different, and the conditions your stone will be exposed to can differ. However, when you choose to go out and clean the stone, there are some key things to keep in mind. 

First and foremost, when cleaning the stone, never attempt to make the stone look ‘newer’. Attempts of this nature often lead to the stone being damaged. Stone damage can lead to deterioration or cause loss of original material. When you do determine it is necessary to clean the stones, use only a soft brush, and water or a non-ionic cleaner with a neutral pH of 7. 

Here are the do’s and don'ts as provided by the NPS (National Park Service) on cleaning headstones. 

Do’s

• Do no harm
• Do select the gentlest cleaning method to accomplish the task
• Do perform small test patches before cleaning the entire stone
• Do follow manufacturers’ recommendations
• Do follow manufacturers’ safety guidance
• Do exercise patience

Don’ts

• Don’t remove original surfaces
• Don’t use bleach or other salt laden cleaners
• Don’t power wash with high pressures
• Don’t sand blast or use harsh mechanical methods such as power tools
• Don’t use strong acids or bases

Knowing all of this, you should be able to determine if you'd like to go forward with cleaning the stone. While it can be tedious work, it is important to take the utmost precautions when deciding to clean a marker.