Every now and then, you may want to pay a visit to your loved one’s gravesite and do some sprucing up, which might include laying down some flowers or cleaning off the headstone. If the headstone is made out of granite, you need to be careful with the kinds of chemicals you use when cleaning it—there are some types of chemicals that are much too harsh for use on granite applications and could result in irreversible damage to the stone.
Here are a few examples of some of the most common cleaners people think about using on granite that you should actually do your best to avoid when cleaning granite headstones in Walterboro, SC:
- Windex: Windex features some ingredients that can result in permanent damage to granite. The biggest example of this damage is that it will severely dull the shine of the granite, but it can also cause pitting in that it strips off the sealer and leaves the granite more susceptible to other forms of damage.
- Bleach: Bleach is far too harsh to use on sealed granite. Not only will it quickly eat through the sealant, but it could also result in staining, because granite is a naturally porous stone material.
- Disinfecting wipes: You’ll find a wide variety of disinfecting wipes on the market, which are extremely convenient for many cleaning practices, but under no circumstances should you use them on granite. The wipes contain higher levels of citric acid, which is quite bad for the sealant used on granite headstones.
- Lemon cleaners: You’ll also find many different types of lemon all-purpose cleaners on the market, including some made by Pledge and Lysol. These cleaners usually contain both lemon and ammonia, both of which are too harsh to use on sealed granite. The acid found in the lemons will break down the sealant that protects the stone, and the ammonia can scratch the surface of the stone and eat away at it. In general, any all-purpose cleaner is likely to be too harsh for use on sealed granite.
- Windex multi-surface cleaner: Different than the common Windex glass cleaner, this is a form of all-purpose cleaner that heavily relies on vinegar, which can etch and dull your sealed granite headstones. Again, as an all-purpose cleaner, you can safely assume it will not be ideal for use on granite.
So if you can’t use any of these types of common chemicals to clean granite, what exactly can you safely use? Any cleaning product you choose should be non-abrasive. There are some granite-specific cleaning products available. Any type of cleaner you’d use for a granite countertop, for example, is also going to be safe to use on a granite headstone. You should avoid using soap, as it will leave behind a filmy residue. Instead, look for these granite-specific cleaners, or if possible, just use clean water and a rag.
If you’re interested in learning more about cleaning granite headstones in Walterboro, SC, contact the experts at Steedley Monument Works today.