Preserve Family Heritage

Headstone Cleaning & Documentation

Preserve your family’s legacy for generations to come.

Headstone engraved with the name "Hill" and the inscription "In God's Loving Care," set in a grassy cemetery with other blurred headstones in the background.

How It Works

  1. Free Quote
    Send me a description of the headstone(s) and gravesite location.
  1. Professional Cleaning
    I gently clean the headstone using safe, approved methods. 
  1. Photo Documentation
    Before & after cleaning, I capture professional, high-resolution photos. Including detailed close-ups of inscriptions.
  1. Delivery & Memorial 
    You’ll receive a link to download all your photos. I’ll also upload photos and GPS location to FindAGrave.com

*Serving Western Wisconsin and the Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area.

Drop your file here or click to upload

Close-up photographs serve as valuable records for your family history. 

Close-up photograph of a headstone inscription written in German, capturing the fine details and texture of the stone surface.

Over time, all headstones are vulnerable to natural wear, environmental damage, and acts of vandalism.

Close-up photograph of a headstone inscription written in German, capturing the fine details and texture of the stone surface.

Preserve inscriptions, fine details, and the legacy of your loved ones through professional photographic documentation.

Close-up of a carved open book and draped cloth design on the top of a headstone in a cemetery.

🌿 Feel at Peace

Rest easy knowing your loved one’s resting place is respectfully cared for, even when you can’t be there in person.

🛡️ Protect Their Legacy

Preserve headstone inscriptions from natural wear and vandalism, keep your family’s history alive for future generations to honor.

🕊️ Create a Place of Comfort

Visit a clean, lovingly maintained gravesite that offers peace, respect, and a deeper connection to cherished memories.

Before and after photos of an 1882 headstone following just one treatment. Due to the headstone’s age and condition, it was not physically touched; only sprayed with  D/2 Biological Solution.

Before and after photos showing the cleaning of an 1882 headstone using D/2 Biological Solution. The "before" images show heavy staining and biological growth, while the "after" images show a significantly cleaner and brighter stone with inscriptions clearly visible.

My Commitment to Safe, Respectful Care

🚫 I Don’t:
• Use bleach, acidic cleaners, or harsh chemicals
• Sandblast, grind, or use any abrasive methods
• Power-wash headstones or use high-pressure water
• Scrub with wire brushes, steel wool, or hard-bristled tools
• Yank plants or roots from cracks without inspecting for damage
• Clean fragile, flaking, or unstable stones without proper evaluation

✅ I Do:
• Clean using soft-bristle brushes and non-ionic (neutral pH) cleaners
• Use D/2 Biological Solution — trusted by the Department of Veterans Affairs and National Park Service
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water during and after cleaning
• Document the headstone’s condition before and after cleaning
• Leave every gravesite clean, tidy, and treated with dignity

📜 Headstone Cleaning FAQs

  1. How often should a headstone be cleaned?
    It’s best to clean a headstone no more than once a year. Over-cleaning can cause erosion, surface loss, and accelerate deterioration, especially on older stones.
  2. What cleaning solutions are safe for headstones?
    Only use water, non-ionic cleaners, or specialized stone cleaners like D/2 Biological Solution. Avoid household cleaners, bleach, vinegar, or any acidic or salty substances.
  3. Can I use a pressure washer to clean a headstone?
    No. Pressure washers and high-pressure water can crack, pit, or destroy stone surfaces. Gentle hand cleaning is the only safe method.
  4. How do you clean biological growth like moss, algae, or lichen?
    The surface is first soaked with water, gently brushed with soft-bristle brushes, and rinsed thoroughly. For persistent growth, a safe biocide like D/2 is used, and the stone is left to self-clean over time.
  5. Is it safe to clean all headstones the same way?
    No. Materials like marble, limestone, and sandstone are much softer than granite and require extra care. Each headstone is assessed individually before cleaning begins.
  6. What tools do you use for cleaning headstones?
    Soft-bristle brushes, wooden or soft plastic scrapers, clean water, and gentle stone-safe cleaners. No metal tools, wire brushes, or power equipment are ever used.
  7. Can you clean a headstone that’s flaking, crumbling, or unstable?
    If a headstone is fragile, flaking, or structurally unsound, it may not be safe to clean. In these cases, cleaning is avoided and a professional conservator is recommended.
  8. How do you maintain the gravesite area?
    Grass is trimmed carefully, weeds are removed by hand, and debris is cleared. Care is taken to avoid disturbing nearby stones or landscaping.
  9. Can you apply protective coatings or sealants to a headstone?
    No. Protective coatings are not recommended, as they can trap moisture inside the stone and accelerate damage over time.

📷 Photography and Documentation FAQs

  1. What kind of photographs do you take?
    I provide high-resolution, professional photographs. This includes clear before-and-after images of the headstone, detailed close-ups of inscriptions, and wide shots showing the entire gravesite.
  2. Why are professional photographs important?
    Photographs document the current condition of the headstone, help preserve important genealogical information, and create a lasting visual record for your family and future generations.
  3. How do you make sure the inscriptions are readable in the photos?
    I use natural lighting and professional techniques to highlight inscriptions clearly without shadows or glare.
  4. How are the photographs delivered?
    You’ll receive a private, secure link to download all digital images. The files are high-resolution and suitable for printing, sharing, or family archiving.
  5. Do you upload information to FindAGrave.com?
    Yes. I upload photos, GPS location, and any inscription details to help preserve your loved one’s memory online.