Stone is a beautiful, valuable material that lasts almost forever. The stones used for funeral monuments have significant sentimental value, for which reason certain representativeness is required. Regular stone maintenance procedures should be carried out on each visit to the grave.
The most common impurities on tombstones are sand and earth splashes. These can be cleaned by brush and water or mild detergent solution. Brushing is also suitable for pollen removal, which should be performed regularly in order to prevent stains. A stainless steel wire brush is a handy tool when removing stubborn moss.
Gilded texts should be cleaned with care; in the first year following the application, cleaning should be avoided altogether. Gilded texts can be cleaned by a soft cloth; if necessary, the gilding can be renewed.
Use dedicated pastes for the cleaning of metal letters and decorations. However, keep in mind that bronze patination over time is normal – even if you remove the patina, darkening of the surfaces is certain to recur.
Use only oil candles in lantern stones – burning candles of other types may lead to sooting of the lantern and stearin splashes. The lantern glass surfaces can be cleaned by water or mild detergent. Soot depositions can be removed by cleaning agents intended for the cleaning of ceramic cooker plates. Greasy stearin stains can be dissolved by methylated spirits.