Should You Hire a Headstone Cleaning Service?

Headstone cleaning services have grown popular, especially for families who live far from the cemetery. Many do excellent work — but harsh methods can permanently damage stone. Here's how to decide.

When a service makes sense

• You live far away and can't visit regularly.
• Heavy lichen or biological growth needs repeated treatment.
• Older marble or sandstone needs specialist care.
• Mobility or health makes kneeling and scrubbing difficult.
• Before an anniversary or unveiling, when you want the stone at its best.

What a good cleaner does

• Uses water and a biological cleaner made for stone.
• Works with soft brushes only.
• Sends before-and-after photos.
• Checks for cracks, tilting or loose photos.
• Asks the cemetery's permission where required.

Red flags

Avoid anyone who uses:

• Pressure washers at high pressure.
• Bleach, acids or household cleaners — see cleaners never to use.
• Wire brushes or grinders.
• Sealants on old stone without explaining why.

These can etch polish, erode marble and strip lettering paint.

DIY alternative

For polished granite, most families can clean their own stone with water, a soft brush and a stone-safe cleaner in under half an hour. See how to clean a granite headstone and removing moss and lichen.

Questions to ask before hiring

• What products do you use? Look for stone-safe biological cleaners.
• Do you use pressure washers? The answer should be no, or very low pressure only.
• Will you send before-and-after photos?
• Are you insured in case of accidental damage?
• Do you have experience with marble or historic stones?
• Will you contact the cemetery if permission is needed?

A reputable cleaner will be happy to answer all of these.

Key Takeaways

• Services help distant families and difficult stains.
• Good cleaners use gentle, stone-safe methods.
• Avoid pressure washers, bleach and wire brushes.
• Polished granite is easy to clean yourself.

Next Step

See restoring shine to a granite headstone.