How to care for a headstone

Cleaning a headstone is one of the most personal ways to honor the memory of someone you love. Done well, it preserves both the stone and the engraving. Done badly, it can permanently damage either or both. The good news is that the right method takes about twenty minutes and uses materials you likely already have.

Start with a soft-bristled brush and clean water. Wet the stone first — never apply any cleaner to dry granite. Work from the bottom up to prevent dirty streaks running down already-clean surfaces. For stubborn buildup, a one-to-one mix of water and non-ionic surfactant (a fragrance-free dish soap will do) is safe; rinse thoroughly.

What to avoid: pressure washers, bleach, vinegar, citrus, and any acid-based 'monument cleaner' from a hardware store. Bleach in particular bonds with the iron content in granite and can leave permanent orange staining.

If moss or lichen has taken hold, do not scrape. Allow the area to dry completely, then gently lift the growth with a wooden tool — never metal. If the lichen is firmly attached, leave it. The stone is more important than the moss.