A headstone is a memorial to a loved one, and we focus on creating beautiful monuments that will last for generations. To ensure the beauty of a granite monument that is exposed to dirt and debris over time, it can be gently washed with water and a soft cloth or brush.

Columbarium USA never cuts corners when it comes to creating quality memorial monuments, and it never uses inferior quality construction materials. Fine-quality granite is easily one of the best materials you can choose for your memorial, as the hard granite composition has the durability to last hundreds of years. However, to stay ship-shape, granite headstones still need to be cleaned.

Read on for our tips on how to clean a granite headstone.

What can you use to clean a granite headstone?

To clean your granite headstone, you will need a few cleaning supplies. Depending on the gravestone material (in this case, we are addressing granite headstones) the exact supplies will vary. Below, we will detail what you will need for cleaning supplies:

• Clean, fresh, or distilled water
• A soft, clean cloth for washing
• A soft cloth for drying
• Paper towels or those blue industrial-strength towels for cleaning and drying
• For “Polished Granite” ONLY you can use “household glass cleaner” (NEVER USE industrial strength cleaners)
• Spray bottle (for water)
• Gloves
• Sponge

The most important thing to remember is that all headstones can be scratched. No matter what the headstone is made of. Even polished granite surfaces can be scratched with a small rock caught in a cloth or bristle brush. The best products to clean a granite headstone is a combination of the items list above. But the process requires a soft cloth or brush to remove the debris first.

Once you have cleaned the polished granite headstone with water or glass cleaner it is most important to dry the headstone completely. Any residue left behind may dry and leave a residue.

For marble headstones, we recommend that you find a local monument dealer to professionally clean it as marble is a porous stone that will absorb any chemicals and it is susceptible to damage.

Even a honed or rock-pitched granite surface has porosity to it that will absorb chemicals, so it is important to work with your monument dealer to get it professionally cleaned.

Before You Clean – Assess Your Stone.

Before the cleaning process even begins, you will need to assess the current condition of your headstone and know what type of stone it is, granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, or slate. If it is starting to show signs of deterioration, such as flaking, cracking, crumbling, etc., you will want to avoid using any hard-thistle brushes. Avoid scraping and, of course, do not power wash, whatever you do! If it is flaking or cracking… this is a sign that the monument is not made of granite, and you would be better advised to get it professionally cleaned.

Never use bleach or other chemicals when cleaning any monument as these chemicals can cause brown staining, and leave an uneven residue if the stone is porous. Marble, sandstone, and slate headstones can deteriorate after cleaning, so it should be noted that these stones should only be cleaned by professionals who understand the delicacy and porous nature of these rocks.

Note that marble headstones may only need to be cleaned if they are in decent condition. Once they are starting to crack or show damage decay, cleaning them could just cause further – irreparable – harm.

Step No. 1: Soak the stone.

Spray the stone down with a hose or dump a bucket of clean water or distilled water over it to soak. Make sure you get the entire surface. Note that is some headstones can be extremely porous and may make the stone look uneven as it dries. Applying water to the headstone using a spray bottle may be handy depending on water accessibility within the cemetery.

Step No. 2: Gently wash the headstone.

If it is a polished granite surface, you are cleaning please be careful not to scratch the polished surface. Put your soft-bristle brush or soft cloth to the test and gently wash the headstone gently in an orbital motion, doing so from bottom to top.

If the edges or surface are a rock-pitched or honed granite, you can use a soft bristle brush on those surfaces although you always should be careful not to scratch the surface.

If you see any flakes or cracks on the headstone stop immediately, as this may not be a granite monument, or the granite has been damaged. Take some photos of the damage and send the images to a monument company that can best advise how to address the repairs and clean it professionally.

Step No. 3: Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Once you have completed washing, it is time to rinse the monument with clean water only. Using your Drying clothes or paper towels. Dry the monument until all beads of water are removed. Any slight beads of water can dry and leave a residue that can leave a mark.

Step No. 4: Household Glass Cleaner (for polished granite surfaces only)

This is important to note that “spray foam” household glass cleaner should only be used on polished granite surfaces. We always use spray foam glass cleaners as it is easier to control the spray when we are cleaning a polished granite surface. To dry the surface, we recommend using industrial-strength blue paper towels as they are stronger and easy to clean the surfaces without shredding. But absorbent regular paper towels or clean clothes can also be used. It is crucial that all residues must be wiped dry when using any glass cleaner.

*Never use industrial-strength glass cleaners as these often have harsher chemical compositions that may be absorbed unevenly into the granite.

If you have a sandstone, marble, or slate headstone never use any chemicals on these stones. We always recommend simply having these monuments cleaned by professionals. Never use any chemicals on these stones as they can damage the monument.

Step No. 5: For honed granite or textured granite surfaces

Because unpolished honed or rock-pitched granite is porous, we do not recommend using any cleaners on this part of the monument. If the stone is stained with oils or dyes, this may be a more complex cleaning that will require the expertise of a monument company or professional granite cleaning company.

*Do not use any cleaners on these surfaces as they are hard to wipe away and may be absorbed into the stone.

Can you clean tombstones with shaving cream?

No! Never clean a tombstone with shaving cream. Preservation experts have stated that the chemicals and acids used in a shaving cream can speed up the deterioration of gravestones. It is a well-meaning tip, but please avoid using shaving cream when cleaning your gravestones. Shaving cream is great for its intended purpose, or to soften a leather glove, but not for your gravestones.

Why Do We Clean Granite Headstones?

Cemeteries are the final resting place of our loved ones. They are also a place of beauty, where we can visit and wander through the setting remembering the lives of those that have passed away. Gravestones are a monument to the life of someone dear. Cemeteries, for many of us, is a place to mourn and reflect. Therefore, it is important to take care of gravestones and do what we can to preserve their beauty – for our memory, for our loved one’s memory, and for the experience of everyone who visits.

No matter the material, some gravestones may begin to wear and become discolored with time. They can easily become covered by debris, lichen, and dirt as the wind moves material around. Sometimes the lettering can become so worn out that it is no longer readable. Monument companies have wonderful techniques to repair and refurbish a monument so never hesitate to contact a local monument company. We want our families to be able to pay proper tribute to their loved one’s life. This may require some attention to monument cleaning and in some cases restoration. A cemetery is a “perpetual care” facility, but this does not imply that headstones will receive the same maintenance that they need to stay preserved and as polished as possible. Perpetual care only refers to landscaping, road maintenance, and some “general” headstone care. Very rarely will this include headstone cleaning, which is why the task will inevitably fall to family members or friends. It takes particular care and materials to clean a headstone yourself. So, if you are ever reluctant to begin the process of cleaning a monument, never hesitate to reach out to a monument company for advice or assistance with professional cleaning.

What is a Columbarium?

A columbarium is an alternative memorial tribute that is designed to hold a single urn or multiple urns filled with the cremated remains of the deceased. A columbarium (or the plural form of the word) “columbaria” serves as both a monument and a place of interment. It is a structure composed of stacked niche boxes that are designed to securely holds the urns. Our columbaria are designed with a key-locking inner security door as well as a granite niche shutter to adorn with an inscription or a bronze plaque. Columbaria can be purchased for public use within cemetery settings by families (wishing to have a private family columbarium) or churches, universities, or cemeteries (interested in creating large-scale columbarium gardens). In some instances, where state laws allow, some families even purchase columbaria to be set on private property where the land stays within the family for generations. Also, sometimes funeral homes require extra storage for funeral urns waiting to be picked up. The columbarium becomes the perfect way to securely inter cremains.

A few reasons why families, funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries throughout North America are turning to Columbarium USA as their “go-to” columbarium manufacturer of choice:

• Our attention to detail, combined with our solid technical expertise.
• Columbarium key-locked inner security doors.
• Fully granite exteriors.
• Aluminium or Nylene columbarium niche core options.
• Securely engineered niches and structural components.
• Frames that are structurally welded to support granite components.
• Powder-coating the Aluminum niche cores to provide a seamless appearance, as well as preventing metal urns from fusing to the base.

Columbarium USA creatives innovatively engineered columbaria with what we consider “standard features” –to deliver “above and beyond” beautiful columbarium designs. We offer our custom columbarium design services to architect firms and clients who require a more detailed design concept.

We have designed and created some of the most technically engineered columbaria designs in North America. One example of our engineering accomplishments is demonstrated at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery: Hillside Landings in Edmonton. This series of custom columbaria are masterfully crafted and designed to cascade down a huge, grand staircase on a hillside. These columbaria were designed with curved rooflines, geometrically complex shapes, and angled lower columbarium niches we refer to as The Ascension Feature. We thrive on working with architects and cemetery management to develop custom designs that best suit the landscape setting and meet the needs of our clients.

Columbarium USA’s professionalism and customer satisfaction are backed by our “A+” Better Business Bureau rating and 5-star Google Reviews. We stand behind our Columbaria models, niches, and memorial accessories with a 10-year warranty on workmanship in addition to a lifetime granite guarantee.

Your Columbarium Manufacturers and/or Suppliers of Choice

We understand that choosing a columbarium manufacturer can be a difficult decision. We are happy to guide you through that process and give you the information you need to be fully confident with the end product you select. Choosing a columbarium is no small task. The process can seem overwhelming. But we are here to listen and share our expertise and walk you through the process from beginning to end. If your institution, your family, your business, or your cemetery management are interested in working with our team to create a beautiful columbarium design, do not hesitate to reach out to us to chat. Let us help you create a custom-made columbarium right here at Columbarium USA. We will help you through the design process, and help you select the model that best suits your needs. We can discuss customization options or refine a geometric shape you prefer. We will be happy to assist you every step of the way. We are industry leaders for good reason. Give us a call to start the process of your Columbarium selection today.