subject: The Best Tips For Caring For Your Monument [print this page] A relative passing away is one of the saddest times of our lives but it helps to ensure that they have a beautiful headstone. There are several different materials available from which to make a wonderful headstone that will ensure that your beloved is remembered. Most people are guilty of leaving a headstone to get horribly dirty after their loved one is buried. Below are the best tips for caring for your headstone to let the memory of your loved one shine through.
The care that the headstone needs largely depends on the material that it is made from. The most common materials used for headstones nowadays are marble, granite and bronze. For marble and granite headstones, keeping them clean is a relatively easy task. The headstone can be gently cleaned with a solution made of 50% water and 50% bleach. Soak the headstone with the solution using a paper towel.
Once you have poured the solution over the headstone it is important to leave it to penetrate the material. The minimum amount of time you should leave it is 30 minutes. Once this time has passed, take some fresh plain water and wipe away all of the foam. This process will leave the headstone clean and bright.
If your relative has a bronze headstone the situation is slightly different. Bronze headstones are made from a mixture of other metals and so it is necessary to know what metals are included in your relative's headstone. You should be able to get this information from the salesman who sold you the headstone.
If you do feel it is necessary to clean the bronze headstone, then you can do so with a mild solution. Take 8 ounces of plain water and mix it with one tablespoon of ivory soap. Take a small nail brush and briskly rub the solution into the headstone. Rinse with plain water and repeat the process if necessary. Finally, rinse with distilled water and then polish it to make the headstone gleam again.
You can purchase ready-made kits that are designed to clean dirty headstones. These are generally inexpensive and can easily be found from online sources. By ensuring that your loved one's headstone is clean and visible, you can make sure that their memory is never forgotten.
