You have a lot of options when it comes to choosing a headstone to memorialize a loved one. Since it’s beautiful and long-lasting, granite is one of the best options out there. The one downside about granite is that you need to clean it on a fairly regular basis to keep it looking nice. You can’t just clean it with any old cleaner, either—there are many granite eating chemicals in Walterboro, SC that can permanently ruin the headstone. Keep reading to learn which cleaning agents you should avoid:
- Anything with bleach: Bleach is generally one of your best friends when you’re cleaning, but avoid using it at all costs on a headstone. Sure, it may remove a stain, but bleach can cause a stain of its own if you’re not careful. Bleach can permanently lighten the granite, which won’t look any better than the mold or mildew stain you were trying to remove.
- Ammonia: Just like bleach, ammonia can be a fantastic household cleaner. Unfortunately, it can also ruin an granite headstone. Cleaners with ammonia will eat away at the sealant and can dull the stone if used too often. A lot of cleaners out there have ammonia in them, so be sure to read the label before using a new type of cleaner on the headstone.
- Acidic cleaners: Again, tons of cleaners have lemon or acidic ingredients that are meant to remove all sorts of stains, oil and grease. These products may be great for general cleaning, but they wreak havoc on granite. Avoid any cleaning products with acidic chemicals unless you want to ruin the sealant.
- Steel wool or abrasive clothes: A piece of steel wool might be your go-to when you’re removing mold or mildew from concrete or brick, but avoid using it on a granite headstone. The steel wool will scratch the surface, leaving the headstone looking much worse than before.
What cleaners should I use?
Now that we’ve covered some of the most common granite eating chemicals in Walterboro, SC, it’s worth mentioning which cleaners you can use. Keep your loved one’s headstone clean with the following products:
- Gentle soap: Liquid dish soap is your best friend when it comes to cleaning a granite headstone. Anything harsher than dish soap can ruin the granite or eat away at the sealant. We recommend Ivory or Dawn soaps.
- Clean water: Along with your dish soap, you’ll want to clean the headstone with clean (or even filtered) water. Using water with any contaminants can actually stain the stone, which is a big hassle that you don’t want to deal with.
- Microfiber cloths: As mentioned above, never use steel wool to clean off a granite headstone. Instead, use a gentle microfiber cloth. It might not be as tough on stains as steel wool, but microfiber also won’t scratch or scuff your granite.
Remember, never use corrosive chemicals on granite in Walterboro, SC, and be sure to hire Steedley Monument Works if you need a new headstone. Give us a call today to learn more about all of our services and products!