It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means many families will be visiting loved ones’ graves. One common tradition for many people is to clean their family headstones during Memorial Day. In this article, we’ll offer some tips on how to clean your family’s Houston Jewish headstones.
If you’re planning on cleaning headstones this Memorial Day, then it’s important to know what kinds of memorials you will be cleaning. Two common options are granite and bronze, so we’ll focus on cleaning tips for these types of headstones.
How to Clean Granite Houston Jewish Headstones
Granite is a popular material used for Houston Jewish headstones because it is incredibly strong and durable. However, you can still damage these headstones with improper cleaning, so be careful. Here are some tips for cleaning granite headstones.
What you’ll need:
- A bucket
- Water (if the cemetery doesn’t have a spigot available)
- Spray bottles (with absolutely no chemical residue inside)
- Granite headstone cleaner
- Several soft cloths, preferably microfiber
- Q-tips
Before cleaning a headstone, make sure it’s in good condition with no damage. Cleaning a damaged headstone can make it worse, so you should get it repaired before attempting any cleaning. If the headstone is in good condition, you can start the cleaning process.
The first step is to gently wipe away any dirt or debris with a dry cloth. Next, wet the stone with water to help dislodge anything you can’t remove with the dry cloth. Follow up with your granite headstone cleaner and apply it with a cloth or an ultra-soft brush. You can use Q-tips to gently remove dirt and grime from crevices like engraved letters and symbols. Afterwards, rinse the cleanser thoroughly from the stone. Next, you will want to dry the stone to remove any excess moisture. Finally, finish by using a fresh cloth to gently buff the stone’s surface to remove any streaks left behind from cleaning your Houston Jewish monuments.
How to Clean Bronze Houston Jewish Monuments
Many Houston Jewish headstones feature bronze plaques. You also need to clean these from time to time. Many families opt for annual cleaning during Memorial Day. These, too, can be damaged if you’re not careful during cleaning. Also, like granite headstones, you should always make sure the bronze plaque is in good condition before trying to clean it. Cleaning bronze headstones is pretty similar to cleaning granite headstones, with a few key differences.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A bucket
- Water (if the cemetery doesn’t have a spigot available)
- Spray bottles (with absolutely no chemical residue inside)
- Bronze grave marker cleaner
- Several soft cloths, preferably microfiber
- Q-tips
- Bronze plaque wax
You will generally use the same steps as we’ve outlined for cleaning granite headstones. One difference is that you need to use a cleanser specifically formulated for bronze grave markers. Like cleaning granite headstones, you need to be gentle and use only soft tools. Also, try to limit how long the marker stays wet. After you’ve thoroughly dried the bronze headstone, you can follow up with a protective coating if you wish, usually in the form of a wax. Once again, only use products specifically for bronze grave markers to reduce the risk of damage. Apply the wax according to the label and buff it with a clean, dry cloth to help protect the bronze from the elements.
Restoring and Repairing Damaged Headstones
Now, what if you discover damage on your loved one’s headstone this Memorial Day? If this is the case, please don’t clean the grave marker, as it could cause more damage. If you notice cracks, crumbling, unevenness, stains, or other issues, the best option is to call our team for headstone repair.
Designing and Repairing Houston Jewish Headstones at Gaitz Memorials
Our team at Gaitz Memorials is here to serve you through quality headstone design and repair services. We are here for you and your family whether you need a grave marker for your recently departed loved one or need help restoring an old family monument. Call us at (281) 888-5522 to discuss your memorial needs with our experts.