Gravestone
Cleaning Do's and Don'ts
by Andi MacDonald
As the movement for cemetery preservation spreads across
our nation, I am seeing more and more articles and videos on cleaning
funerary objects written by well-meaning individuals. It seems
everyone now wants to jump on the bandwagon without proper training.
While we genealogists know how to glean family history information from a
burial record, or a headstone, or other burial records, many of us are not
specialists in cemetery preservation Just as the Association of
Professional Genealogists promotes sound genealogical work, we
should also promote sound cleaning techniques.
A specialist in cemetery preservation is one who has taken classes
from professional stone preservationists such as Fannin-Lehner
Preservation Consultants in Concord, MA, or Lynette Strangstad, author of "A Graveyard Preservation
Primer." A specialist understands
the various types of stones and how chemicals/environment affect each.
And, a specialist knows very specific methods for cleaning funerary
objects.
We are starting to refer to cemetery
preservationists as 'cemeterians,' a word coined by an individual on one
of the many cemetery conservation maillists.
There are a few points anyone writing an article on cemeteries
might keep in mind that would benefit all. They are:
DO NOT
1. Do not promote chalk or any other product considered to be
natural--dirt, grass, weeds, etc. They are all harmful to stone. If you
would like specific information on this, please contact me privately.
2. Do not promote household bleach; aka SODIUM hypochlorite.
While chlorine is safe in very limited quantities, the sodium in it is the
most harmful thing you can use on a stone. Use CALCIUM hypochlorite
instead. And, never use calcium hypochlorite unless the stone absolutely
needs it for biological growth--use plain water and non-ionic detergent first.
3. Do not clean one stone more often than one time every ten
years--longer if possible.
4. Do not use any brush or product on a stone with natural bristle
brushes as they will leave fibers behind that biological growth adheres
to.
5. Do not use power washers, wire brushes, etc. These items
rip the skin of a stone which promotes water penetration--stone breathes
water vapor but hates water. (yes, stone has a skin!)
6. While it may be great to have a rubbing--please do not promote
them. They damage stone, believe it or not. Some cemeteries are
banning this practice altogether.
DO
1. Promote the cleaning of sound stones (if it sounds hollow when
you rap your knuckles on it, leave it alone) with a non-ionic detergent.
The only two recommended non-ionic detergents are Orvis (used for cleaning
horses and available at tack shops or seed/feed stores) and Photo-Flo
(sold at photographic supply stores such as Kits Cameras or some 1hour
photo stores). Both of these products are very cheap--about a penny a
stone.
2. Promote the use of WHITE NYLON bristle brushes, such as the ones
you can buy with a handle for cleaning a bathroom floor, and other brushes
such as used toothbrushes (with white handles and bristles).
White=no dyes.
3. Promote contacting the Association for Gravestone Studies
for more information. There are
many well-meaning individuals on the Internet who still encourage poor
cleaning methods, so go to the experts (sounds like an APG mantra).
4. Promote teaching our youngsters proper cleaning methods and
respect for cemeteries.
5. Promote wetting the entire stone completely (think sponge) before
any brush is taken to it and start at the bottom of the stone and work
your way to the top to avoid stains that will never come out. Only
promote non-ionic detergents for stubborn stains; only promote calcium
hypochlorite for complete removal of biological growth such as black moss.
6. Promote the book "A Graveyard Preservation Primer," by
Lynette Strangstad, or promote membership in an organization that works
specifically with cemetery preservation or gravestone preservation.
7. Promote taking a photo instead of a rubbing. There are ways
to bring every detail out in a photo while rubbings cannot. Photos
are not harmful.
