Respect the Stone, Preserve the Story: A Beginner’s Guide to Headstone Cleaning
- Aug 18, 2025
- 3 min read
How GraveGeeks Volunteers Are Saving History One Brushstroke at a Time
Every cemetery tells a story. Some stones shine bright with fresh flowers and family visits, while others sit quietly, weathered by time, their inscriptions slowly fading. For many of us at GraveGeek Volunteers Inc., those forgotten stones are where our hearts pull us the most.
Why We Clean Headstones
Imagine walking through a cemetery and seeing a stone so worn that the name is unreadable. That name belongs to someone’s ancestor, a loved one whose memory deserves to be honored. Cleaning a headstone isn’t vanity work—it’s genealogy preservation, cemetery research, and an act of respect all at once.
Restore legibility so families and researchers can read names and dates again.
Preserve stone surfaces from damaging growth.
Help genealogists and historians document accurate records.
Honor lives, ensuring they’re not forgotten.
“It’s history in your hands—one brushstroke at a time.”
Tools for Respectful Cleaning
At GraveGeeks, we always use the gentlest approach. Headstones can be fragile, especially marble and limestone. Recommended tools include:
Quaternary Ammonium-based solutions like D2 Biological Solution and the original Wet and Forget Outdoor solution.
Soft brushes (nylon/natural bristle)
Lots of clean water
Plastic or wooden scrapers. We love the Bondo spreading tools as well.
Spray bottles, bamboo skewers, and a notepad for documenting
⚠️ Avoid bleach, vinegar, household chemicals, pressure washers, and power tools.
The Gentle Process (As Seen in the Video)
Get Permission — Always check with the cemetery or family first. If it is a public cemetery, permissions may be handled by the town or city office. Private cemeteries may require family approval.
Assess the Stone — Skip fragile or flaking stones. Gently run your hand across the surface; if grains of stone come loose, it should not be scrubbed. The product can be sprayed on the stone but do not scrub. Spray and walk away. Note the type of stone (granite, marble, slate, etc.) as each has different levels of durability.
Apply Cleaner — Let it sit for about 15 minutes. A biological or enzyme-based cleaner will continue to work over time even after you leave, gradually brightening the stone.
Scrub Gently — Small circles, soft brushes only. Use different sizes of brushes to get into carved letters and designs. Take your time; gentleness is more important than speed.
Rinse Well — Use plenty of water. Rinsing between scrubbing passes keeps loosened debris from settling back onto the stone. A pump sprayer or bucket is helpful for thorough rinsing.
Document — Before-and-after photos matter. Note the cemetery name, plot location, and date cleaned for genealogy records. Share with the community to inspire others and contribute to cemetery research archives.
This takes time. The before and after photo were about a year and a half apart.
What It Feels Like
Our volunteers often describe it as peaceful, almost meditative. You lean in close, brush slowly, and then suddenly, letters appear. A name. A date. A story.
“It felt like I was uncovering a memory and giving it back to the world.”
How You Can Join the Movement
🪦 Adopt a Headstone — Sponsor preservation. Click here to donate.
🧤 Volunteer Locally — Join clean-ups or start your own
📸 Contribute to Genealogy — Document for family history
🎥 Watch our video on YouTube - This is the tutorial video.
If you are interested in joining to help with any of this, please get in touch with us at gravegeeks@gmail.com
Every stone has a story. Every name belongs to a life once lived. By cleaning headstones with care, we preserve genealogy, local history, and community memory.
At GraveGeeks, we believe no one should be forgotten.
“We don’t just clean headstones. We reconnect families with their stories.”
With love,
TashasGraveAdventures
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