How to Clean and Maintain a Memorial

In honor of Memorial Day, we saw many families coming out to honor and remember loved ones who are no longer with us. All the flowers, flags and other small tokens were signs that those who are gone will never be forgotten. As the community’s premier source for monuments in Phillipsburg, NJ, we often have families coming to us with questions about what they can do to maintain the memorial erected in honor of a loved one. To better serve our community, we wanted to make some of those recommendations and tips available here.

Remove debris

Before you begin, it’s best to clean away any large debris. Remove leaves, branches and any other foliage that may have taken up space around the memorial. You may also, in some cases, find that you need to sweep away dirt from around the space before you begin the next level of cleaning.

Cleanse with water

Always remember that water is the safest cleaning agent and is always the best place to start when cleaning a memorial. Start your cleaning with some water and a soft cloth. For dirt and grime that proves difficult to remove, you can use a wet, soft brush and gently scrub the area. Remember to be patient. While being slow and gentle may be more time consuming, it will help prevent damage to the memorial.

Polishing

Remember that most soaps and household cleaners contain chemicals or oils that can penetrate stone and cause discoloration, damage the finish and even break down the stone itself. Once you have removed the dirt with water, you can polish the stone using a household glass cleaner to give it a streak-free shine.

Older memorials

Keep in mind that these methods may not be ideal for older stone memorials. Generally speaking, these methods should not be used on memorials that are over 200 years old. It’s important that you inspect a stone carefully before beginning the cleaning process.

Professional cleaning services

In some cases, if a stone already shows signs of damage or is very old, as mentioned above, it’s important that you bring in professional help to assess and clean the stone. Different stone materials require different methods of cleaning. A professional will be able to mix a cleaning solution that is specifically designed to tackle each job and will have the skills to gently bring a stone back to its original state without causing damage.

Replacement

In some cases, a memorial may be beyond repair. In these instances, you will want to consider a replacement stone. A replacement stone will ensure that your loved one is remembered for many years to come and future generations can pay their respects as well.

For more tips and recommendations, or to set up a professional cleaning, please reach out to us at Phillipsburg Memorial Company. We specialize in crafting, cleaning and maintaining monuments in Phillipsburg, NJ. To learn more about our services and what we can do to help remember your loved one, contact us today.

Categorised in: Headstone