[or-roots] cleaning headstones

[Diane]

      Can polished marble monuments (slabs) be cleaned using ordinary household bleach?  
      , 
      Answer NO. Household bleaches (which includes Mr Clean) often contain sulphates and may cause exfoliation of the surface as these salts dry out and recrystallize in the surface pore structure.
      Bleaches can also produce light brown staining after a period of time. 
      Try:
      First, using clean water, dampen the entire stone gently without disturbing the dirt.
      Once the stone has been saturated, use plenty of clean water and scrub the surface lightly and carefully with a soft natural bristle brush just hard enough to lift the surface soiling. 
      Cover the stone with a paper poultice and allow to dry completely, this will ensure that dissolved particles are deposited in the paper and not returned the surface of the stone.
      Wash well with clean water.  

   We may go out next week with some Mr. Clean and brushes and grass clippers and see if we can make the stones a bit more legible.  They are pretty small.

   

   
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