How to Clean Bronze Headstones

Over time, bronze lettering can become corroded and unreadable.

Bronze has been the metal of choice for many historical plaques and monuments that can be seen off of highways and national parks. Grave markers, or headstones, also are sometimes made of bronze. Unfortunately, the environment is very harsh on this metal, particularly in wet places. Bronze quickly begins to corrode and darken when not regularly maintained. For both tourists and loved ones, commemorative bronze pieces, when clean, are a dazzling memorial.

Things You'll Need

• Scrub brush
• 2 buckets (at least 1 gallon capacity each)
• Dish soap (non-ionic)
• 1 gallon water
• Spray bottle containing distilled water
• Paste wax (any non-powdering, clear, UV-inhibiting wax)
• Wax applicator (commercial brush/pad, or terry washcloth)
• 3-4 clean, soft towels (at least 1 should be flannel)
• Shoe brush
• Can of compressed air (optional)

Instructions

1. Add 1/2 cup of water to a tablespoon of dish soap in one bucket, and stir with the scrub brush. Using the brush, scrub the surface of the bronze headstone, using pressure to remove any foreign material.

2. Rinse the marker by pouring half a gallon of water over the surface, using your other bucket. If after rinsing the plaque still looks dull or dirty, repeat the scrubbing and rinsing process. Rinse out the scrub brush and set aside to dry.

3. Spray the plaque with distilled water, being sure to cover the entire surface and letting the water drip off as much as possible. You now have a relatively chemically inert bronze surface.

4. Use towels or compressed air to pat or spray away the water droplets remaining on the headstone. Be sure the headstone is completely dry.

5. Keep the shoe brush close at hand. Dip the wax applicator into the paste wax and pull up a small amount of wax, enough to cover about five square inches of bronze. Rub a thin layer over the bronze, then use the shoe brush to lightly brush away any residue so as to avoid streaking. Go over the entire headstone surface in this manner. Wait three to five minutes.

6. Scrub the surface of the headstone again using the dry scrub brush. Then, use a flannel cloth to buff the headstone, working in small circular motions and using as much pressure as you would to wax a car. Wipe off any excess wax residue with a clean cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make the bronze headstone even shinier by returning 24 hours after you have cleaned to rebuff with a flannel cloth.

References

• Preserving Blonze Plaque and Memorials: a simple how-to manual