How To Maintain And Clean Your Family Members’ Headstones
When one of your loved ones dies, one of the many final acts of showing your love to them is to give them a unique and beautiful headstone. But choosing a headstone is not as easy as it seems. There are many aspects that you should consider when choosing one.
You have to think of the design and remember the essential things that meant a lot to your beloved one. You have to spend more time thinking about the inscription that you will put on the headstone. Remember to choose the words wisely because they would serve as the dead person’s final words and its message to those he/she left behind.
Although headstone comes in different designs, they only have one common base called Granite. Granites are the most common material used for headstones. It weathers slowly compared to marble or limestone, perfect for headstones that are exposed to changing weather. This allows the headstone to be still readable even for hundreds of years.
The only problem with the granite headstone is its difficulty when it comes to cleaning. If you don’t do it right, you might destroy the headstone’s quality. To help you clean it, here are some steps on how to maintain and clean your family members’ headstone.
1- Get rid of the debris
The first step that you must do when you clean your family members’ headstone is to remove all the debris on sight. Doing that will help you clean the headstone without getting distracted from the mess that surrounds the grave. You can sweep it off or using something that would remove small debris stuck in small spaces.
2- Remove the dust and dirt from the headstone
Do not wipe the headstone directly with a towel or a piece of cloth because it might create some scratches on the headstone. Use water with a little bit of soap and slowly drop it on the headstone to get rid of the rough dust and dirt. Then wipe it with cloth slowly and repeat the process until all dirt and dust is eliminated. Avoid using other cleaning liquids like ammonia or lemon cleanser because they are way too acidic for the headstone and might destroy its surface.
3- Apply clean and natural water
After pouring all the soapy water on the headstone, the next thing that you need to do is to wash it with clean water. Wash thoroughly to prevent the soapy water from building up on the headstone. Do it multiple times and wipe it with a clean cloth. Make sure you don’t use the same material while brushing it with clean water multiple times. Using the same cloth might leave some soapy water on the headstone.
4- Wait for the headstone to dry
Dispose of the cloth that you used from steps 2 and 3 and get a new white cloth. Use it and wipe the headstone completely to avoid leaving some streaks. There will also be instances where excess fibers will be left behind on the headstone. Take note of that too.
5- Include the inlays and engravings
Most headstones have inlays, engraved letterings, and etchings. Make sure to clean them too. It might be tricky because inlays and inscribed letterings are too narrow, and an ordinary cloth cannot accomplish the job. You can use cotton buds or create a cleaning utensil that can go in between those inlays. Dip it in soapy water and graze it gently on the narrow spaces. Prepare as many cotton buds as possible to completely eradicate all the dirt.
If you want your headstone to last long, you should be careful with the utensils and liquid you use when cleaning the headstone. Avoid using a wire brush or a steel wool ball since it can damage the stone and create scratches on the surface.
