August 8, 2025
Grave markers serve as lasting tributes to our loved ones, preserving their memories and stories for generations to come. Over time, however, these memorials face natural wear from weather, pollution, and biological growth like moss and lichen.
Professional gravestone cleaning services play a vital role in maintaining the dignity, appearance, and legibility of these monuments.
If you’re considering having your loved one’s memorial professionally cleaned, it helps to know what to expect during the appointment.
This detailed guide explains the process, what makes professional cleaning different from DIY methods, and how Summit Memorials ensures the highest standard of care for your family’s treasured monuments.
A thorough assessment is the first step. Before any cleaning begins, trained technicians:
This ensures the cleaning approach is tailored specifically to your monument, avoiding damage and maximizing effectiveness.
Summit Memorials follows a carefully planned cleaning procedure that respects the monument’s material and historical value.
Loose debris such as leaves, grass clippings, and dirt is carefully brushed away using soft, plastic-bristled brushes. This dry cleaning step prepares the surface for wet cleaning without causing scratches.
A professional-grade cleaning product, specially formulated to remove dirt and grime from stone surfaces without affecting the polish, is applied. Harsh substances like vinegar, bleach, lemon-based cleaners, or ammonia are never used, as they can damage both stone and metal components.
Using soft cloths or sponges soaked in soapy water, technicians gently wash the monument surface. For intricate lettering or etchings, small brushes or even Q-tips are used to remove dirt lodged in crevices.
The monument is rinsed thoroughly with clean water to remove all traces of soap and cleaning agents. This prevents residue buildup, which can cause discolouration or blotchy patches.
Microfiber cloths, preferred for their lint-free properties, are used to dry the surface, ensuring a clean, polished finish without leaving fibres or marks.
Each monument material requires a specific approach to cleaning:
Summit Memorials’ skilled workers are trained to recognize these differences and use appropriate products and techniques accordingly.
To help ensure a smooth process, families should:
Summit Memorials respects the emotional nature of this service and works with families to accommodate their wishes.
Professional cleaning is part of ongoing in-cemetery maintenance that keeps monuments looking their best and prevents costly damage. Summit Memorials also offers:
Together, these services ensure your family’s history is preserved with care and respect.
Environmental factors affect how quickly monuments collect dirt and growth. Factors such as nearby trees, roads, or sprinklers may necessitate cleaning once or twice annually. Professional advice from Summit Memorials can help determine the best maintenance schedule for your specific site.
Summit Memorials is proud to offer Edmonton and surrounding communities expert gravestone cleaning services with:
When you choose Summit Memorials, you’re entrusting your family’s memorial to professionals who treat it with the same care they would their own.
To learn more or schedule a professional grave marker cleaning appointment, contact us directly. We’re here to help you honour your loved ones with dignity and respect.
