What to Do to Clean a Grave-Site

One of the tasks you may have to do if you have had a loved one buried in a cemetery is to maintain their grave-site. That is something that you want to remember so if you have never taken care of a grave-site before, you may not know where to start. There are some things that can help you in the process of doing this, so it can be important to keep them in mind. Here are the things that directors of funeral homes in Gulfport, MS want you to remember.

The first thing you want to remember is to assess the grave marker. You do not want to even attempt to clean it if it is not sturdy. If you see that it has cracks, is flaking, or crumbling, you definitely do not want to do anything to it that can make this worse. If you do see that the structure is stable, you want to remove any debris, like leaves or dirt.

You want to know the tools that you can and cannot use to do all of this. You want tools that are not hard or abrasive. Avoid brushes with hard bristles and never use power-washing equipment to clean a marker. This will only damage it. You also do not want to use bleach because it will stain the marker and discolor it. What you want to use is a sponge and soft-bristled brushes.

If your marker is made of marble, you want to begin the process of cleaning it by wetting it completely. Marble is porous and it will absorb the liquid you pour on it. By using water first, you are ensuring it does not absorb the cleaning solution you choose. You then want to take a closer look at the marker. If you see algae or other growths, you may want to add a bit of ammonia to the water. Use only a small amount. This should remove the biological matter.

For a granite marker, you want to begin the process like you would for marble. Do not use any ammonia, however. If you see dirt and algae, add an ounce of detergent to five gallons of water and use that to clean it. You want to rinse the stone completely. Never clean granite when it is dry, because that can make it flake and crack.

These are some of the most important things you want to remember when you want to maintain the grave-site of a loved one. There are lots of things that you can do to ensure the grave marker looks its best and is in the right conditions. You want to always remember to use clean water and rinse the marker thoroughly so that no residues and stains remain. You can learn more about all of this or you can make any funerary arrangements you may need by reaching out to a Gulfport, MS funeral home like us. We are here to help you with all of the decisions you need to make after the death of a loved one. Give us a call right now or visit us today to speak with an expert.