Cleaning Gravestones

We wanted to restore gravestones using a process that is not harmful to the stone or the environment.

We start by rinsing the stone and then scrubbing it with water using various types of soft bristle brushes. We then spray the stone down with a mixture of water and the cleaning chemical D2, and let it soak in. After waiting about twenty minutes to a half-hour, we scrub the stone again to remove more of the lichen and pollutants. We then use even smaller brushes to clean all the lettering and sculpture details. Afterwards, we rinse the stone and complete the process by applying a mist of D2 again. We leave this on the stone so it can continue to kill the remaining lichen and protect the gravestone from further growth.

The cleaning time varies for each gravestone depending on factors like size and ornamentation, but it usually takes about one and a half hours for a simple tablet, and several hours for more ornate monuments.

As time goes by, the cleaning process reacts with sunlight. After a year, many stones look even better than just weeks after their cleaning.

Cleaning Process

1. Bring plenty of clean water for wetting and rinsing the stone. First rinse the stone thoroughly. Start cleaning from the bottom to avoid streaks. Use only wet, non-metallic, soft nylon or natural bristle brushes. Be extra careful around cracks or flaking areas.
2. Spray the stone with a mix of water and the cleaning chemical D2. Let it soak in. Use a dilution of 1:1 to 1:4 (D2 to water) depending on the severity of growth.
3. After 20–30 minutes, gently scrub the stone again to remove lichen and pollutants.
4. Use smaller brushes to clean all the lettering and sculpture details.
5. Rinse the stone thoroughly and mist with D2 again. Leave it on the stone to continue working.

PLEASE DO NOT USE TOXIC CHEMICALS ON THE STONES.