Household Cleaners You Should Never Use on a Headstone

Well-meant cleaning causes more headstone damage than weather. Avoid these products.

The never list

• Bleach — leaves salts and can discolour stone
• Vinegar and lemon — acids that etch marble and dull polish
• Rust and lime removers — strong acids
• Ammonia-based glass cleaners
• Abrasive powders and scouring pads
• Wire brushes and pressure washers

Why it matters

Marble and limestone dissolve in acid. Granite is tougher, but acids attack polish and joints, and bleach residue can cause white spots — see white spots on headstones.

What to use instead

Clean water, a soft natural-bristle brush and a pH-neutral or stone-specific cleaner. See how to clean a granite headstone and how to clean a marble headstone.

Products that are safe

If water alone isn't enough:

• pH-neutral soap — a few drops in a bucket of water.
• Stone-specific cleaners labelled safe for granite and marble.
• Biological cleaners — for moss and lichen, applied and left to work over weeks.
• Soft natural-bristle brushes and plastic scrapers.

Always test a hidden area first and rinse thoroughly. If you're unsure what stone it is, treat it as marble and be gentle.

Tools to avoid

Beyond chemicals, some tools also damage stone:

• Wire brushes — scratch polish.
• Pressure washers — erode soft stone and lettering.
• Metal scrapers — chip edges.
• Power sanders — remove polish.

A soft natural-bristle brush and plastic scraper are all you need.

If damage has already happened

If a harsh cleaner was used:

• Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove residue.
• Photograph dull patches or white spots.
• Don't try to polish it yourself.
• Ask a monument professional about re-polishing.

Most granite damage from cleaners is surface-level and can be improved.

Key Takeaways

• No bleach, vinegar or rust removers.
• No abrasives or pressure washers.
• Water, soft brushes and pH-neutral cleaners are safest.

Next Step

Questions about a stain? Contact us before you scrub.