How to Clean a Headstone Safely (And What Never to Use)

First, get permission

Before cleaning any marker, contact the cemetery office. Most cemeteries welcome family care but want to know who is working on their grounds, and some require the family of record to authorize it.

What you need

• Several gallons of clean water (many cemetery sections have no spigot)
• Soft nylon or natural-bristle brushes — never metal
• A stone-safe biological cleaner such as D/2 Biological Solution
• Plastic or wooden scrapers for thick growth
• Towels and patience

The safe method

1. **Check the stone's condition.** If it is cracked, flaking, or "sugaring" (granular surface loss), stop — cleaning can accelerate damage, and the stone needs a professional assessment first. 2. **Soak the stone with water.** A thoroughly wet stone releases soiling more easily and prevents cleaner from soaking in too fast. 3. **Apply the biological cleaner** per label directions and let it dwell a few minutes. 4. **Scrub gently from the bottom up.** Working upward prevents streaking. Use light pressure and let the chemistry do the work. 5. **Rinse thoroughly.** Residue left behind attracts new soiling. 6. **Walk away.** Biological cleaners keep working for weeks — stones often look dramatically better a month later.

What never to use

• **Bleach or ammonia** — drives salts into the stone that cause spalling
• **Vinegar or acids** — dissolves marble and limestone outright
• **Pressure washers** — blasts away the stone surface and inscriptions
• **Wire brushes or scouring pads** — scratches every stone type
• **Sealants** — traps moisture inside the stone

When to call a professional

Call a professional if the stone is old, fragile, historically significant, heavily stained, or if it needs more than surface cleaning — repair, leveling, or inscription work. Professional cleaning is affordable, and a good professional will tell you when a stone should not be cleaned at all.