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Power Washing, Roof Cleaning -> National Softwash Alliance -> General Discussions and Conversations -> Headstone Cleaning Whole Cemetery
Post Info TOPIC: Headstone Cleaning Whole Cemetery
Jeff Wible


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Headstone Cleaning Whole Cemetery
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I cleaned a very old  Church this past season,...and it has a lot of very moldy headstones.  They asked me if I was interested in doing the headstones and I said,..maybe?  I have done a few over the years upon the request of a family.  They turn out great and are much more readable when I'm done. 

So, I did a couple test stones and they looked really good,..even before rinsing. Here's the problem: I researched it a little,..and it's pretty much a consensus that bleach should NOT be used,..due to the salt it leaves behind.  I personally think it would wash out and be fine?   My idea was to spray with really strong mix and let time to the rinsing,..they have no water source there at all. I told them it would kill the grass,..but it would come back,..they didn't seem to care, Ha, Ha,..

There's a specialty product made for cleaning headstones,..like,..$2000.00 a barrel.  I told them I would only do it my way because I'm confident in the method and results. But I also don't want to be responsible for an 1800's headstone to crumble apart. 

http://d2bio.com/

https://cemeteryconservatorsunitedstandards.org/harmful-methods/dont-clean-with/

Anyone have experience with this. I plan to see if I can find the old stones I did in the past and evaluate from there. 

Jeff



-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Tuesday 17th of December 2019 05:41:20 AM

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Art O


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Look into Tile x Jeff. Spray the stone in the rain and let the rain rinse it. I do a statue every year this way. Always comes out good

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Jeff Wible


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Thanks Art,..I will look into it,..issue with little bottles would be the amount of stones there are,...probably 300 or more. That's alot of Tilex. The only chance they have for me to do this on a grand scale is something I can spray on and walk away in a relatively short period of time. Unless they have ALOT of money to spend,..and maybe not even then.

I seen online where they do them one at a time,.plastic scrapers scrub brushes,....man,..when you would be done with the first one,..you would look around and and ask yourself "What did I get myself into?"

I think this place may be on the historic registry,..and they may have to approve the process?

Jeff

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DirtyRoofcom


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Head stones are generally marble, granite or limestone. Everyone is out there cleaning these surfaces on the regular with SH w no issuesso I'm a little skeptical about this $50 gallon miracle cleaner.

Maybe we can just figure out what it actual is?

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Jeff Wible


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Hey Erik,..I agree 100%,...the salt would just dilute and wash away from the stone. Some of these old stones are some kind of sandstone I think? Not typical sandstone,..but something in that category. Even though,..I think they would be fine. But I felt it was my responsibility to inform them on what I found. But also gave them my opinion and experience,..just as you mentioned about doing it for years without issue.

Jeff

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Art O


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What ever you decide on. The rain is your best friend

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Jeff Wible


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Especially in this case,..they have no water there,..it is an old Church,..they no longer hold services there,..Once a year I think they told me. There is an old broken down outhouse. They must bring in a job johnny for the one service a year thing.

I pretty much made my mind up,..probably SH or nothing,...I wouldn't even mind using the approved stuff,..but I doubt they have the money for that. They would be into several thousand dollars just for the product alone,...and I would make no guarantees with a product I'm unfamiliar with.

Jeff

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BlueRidge


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I have cleaned a few military headstones with 50/50, rinsed with water in a pump up and they came out great. I have just not had the time and energy to get back to finish. Once this area of WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam is finished I'll move on the the older Civil War headstones.

I agree with Erik.

Brett



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Brett Thompson

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