How to Clean a Bronze Grave Marker

June 24th, 2019 | 8:00 am | Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby
How To Clean Bronze Grave Marker

While walking through the cemetery with my wife and daughter recently, I noticed a section of our cemetery that was completely flooded. I can’t remember a year when we’ve had this much rain in such a short period of time.

If you have purchased a memorial from a cemetery, and you went to visit recently and the grave site is a muddy mess, please be understanding with your cemetery. I know our staff is continuously working hard to keep our cemetery dry and the markers clean. The staff who is serving you does as well, though they may not always be able to keep up.

Seeing markers drenched in the elements, I can certainly understand the desire to take care of your loved one’s marker into your own hands, and it is your right to do so.

However, it is important to remember there is a safe way to keep the marker clean without risking damage to the protective clear coat and ensuring your marker lasts as long as possible.

Read through this short guide on how to clean your bronze grave markers, as well as what NOT to do.

Play Video

Best Way to Clean Your Bronze Grave Marker

Clean Grave Marker Soap Water

Step 1: Spray

Spray your bronze plaque with a mild soap (Example: Ivory® dish soap or Simple Green®) and water. Be sure not to let the soapy water sit too long.

Wipe Dirt Debris

Step 2: Wipe

Use medium pressure and a soft, lint-free cloth to carefully wipe away any dirt and debris.

Soft Brush Scrub Bronze Marker

Step 3: Scrub

If your bronze memorial is still dirty or grimey after cleaning with soap and water, use a soft bristled brush and specialized bronze cleaning product to scrub the bronze and clean the rest.

Wipe Clean Dirt Debris Chemicals

Step 4: Dry

Make sure the grave marker is completely rinsed off and free from all applied chemicals, dust and debris.

How To Clean Bronze Grave Marker Guide

Step 5: Wax (Optional)

Apply a thin layer of wax (without silicone or other harsh chemicals) to help add to the protective coating. Lightly and gently buff the surface with a soft wax detailer.

Need to Reorder or Refinish a Memorial?

Has your grave marker or memorial plaque been damaged or destroyed? Let us reorder or refinish your memorial for you.

What to Do

Here is a quick and safe plan to keep your special place looking spick and span without breaking the bank or your back:

Rinse Thoroughly

Use a mild soap (Example: Ivory® dish soap or Simple Green®) and water as often as every 3 months and at a minimum twice a year. Use medium pressure and a soft, lint free cloth along with soap and clean water for best results.

Use Bronze Cleaners

Only use specialized cleaning products if soap and water doesn’t work. Special cleaners for bronze grave markers can be purchased online.

Periodic Waxing

Waxing your memorial another way to ensure its longevity. Waxing protects it from acid in the dirt and atmosphere. Be sure to choose a wax that without silicone or any harsh chemicals (Example: Trewax® Clear Paste Wax)

Dusting

Regular dusting using a soft duster or brush is recommended to remove debris.

What Not to Do

No Harsh Chemicals

Do NOT use bleach, window cleaners, shaving cream, or any cleaner containing acidic chemicals.

No Rough Brushes

Do NOT use hard metal brushes or wire brushes on your marker- these can cause swirl marks.

NO SITTING SOAP / CLEANERS

Do NOT let any soap or other chemicals sit on your marker without rinsing.

If you have purchased a memorial from a cemetery, and you notice the grave site is muddy, please be understanding with your local cemetery.

 

By following the above steps, family members can help to ensure the longevity of their loved one’s memorial while maintaining a beautiful place to visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do not use any harsh cleaning chemicals while cleaning a bronze memorial. Only use a mild soap (example: Ivory® dish soap or Simple Green®) and water. Be sure not to let the soapy water sit too long.

Be sure to only use a soft bristled brush along with a specialized bronze cleaning product to scrub the bronze and clean the rest of the plaque. A hard bristled brush can leave swirls or scratches on the face of the plaque.

Yes, you can apply a thin layer of wax (without silicone or other harsh chemicals) to help add to the protective coating. Lightly and gently buff the surface with a soft wax detailer.

Let us reorder or refinish your memorial for you. Contact us today and we will create a replica of your grave marker in pristine condition.

Avatar for Ethan Darby

Ethan Darby

Ethan is the Director of Consumer Relations for Trigard Memorials and all affiliated companies. He graduated from Illinois State University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration before becoming one of three 4th generation Darby family owners and operators. His experience within the company includes memorial manufacturing, cemetery retail, national cemetery and vault sales, along with plant and customer service management. Ethan also enjoys hiking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Keri, and his daughters, Sawyer and Olivia.

83 responses to “How to Clean a Bronze Grave Marker”

  1. Avatar for Clay Clay says:

    Will baking soda and lemon juice combination clean a bronze grave marker?

  2. Avatar for Ethan Ethan says:

    Hi Clay, thanks for your inquiry! Unfortunately we have never experimented with this combination. To be safe, we typically try to stick to mild solutions like simple green and warm water. I will say that the acidic nature of lemon juice is a concern, so I would recommend not using it on a marker.

  3. Avatar for Gary Gary says:

    What chemical process is recommended for grave plaque’s older oxidation greening of the bronze name and date? Appreciate any proven methods anyone can share that’s cost effective without having it removed to have it factory restored.

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Gary, while I’m sure there are ways to remove patina from a marker while it is still installed in the cemetery, we usually don’t recommend it for good reason: Once you remove the patina, you have now exposed the raw bronze to the elements all over again, leaving it extremely vulnerable to oxidation and patina. Unless you were able to add a clear coat to protect the bronze once the patina is removed, you would be creating a temporary solution. Clear coats are nearly impossible to apply effectively in the field. Our cost to refinish is very reasonable, though. Please reach out to us if you’re interested: 18007084900

  4. Avatar for Ron Booker Ron Booker says:

    My mom wants to replace my grandmother’s headstone for a customized bronze marker, and we want to know how it should be cleaned correctly. It was nice of you mentioning that one should use a bronze wax and cleaner to protect the marker with a soft cloth. I will let my mom know this so she can start customizing the memorial and have it placed as soon a possible.
    https://www.wolfordmonumentco.net/

  5. Avatar for Lou Cumming Lou Cumming says:

    Someone said you can use WD40. Do you know if that’s a good option?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      We have no experimented with WD40. I would not recommend using it on a marker. Soap and water is usually a safe bet.

  6. Avatar for Audrey Herd Audrey Herd says:

    my Mom’s bronze headstone has lost all color. How can you get color back on it.

  7. Avatar for Maria Dias Maria Dias says:

    Have you heard of using petroleum jelly on a brass marker?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      I have not heard of using petroleum jelly. While I don’t see any ingredients that seem particularly harmful, I would use caution.

  8. Avatar for Michelle Austerman Michelle Austerman says:

    What WAX do you recommend for the Bronze portion of the Grave stone? My Mom’s is BRAND new (1 yr old) old and looks very bad my dad’s was refinished (within a yr) and it looks even worse, I have used the mild soap and I have few times of cleaning it but I want to make sure that I do not take off the coating for the Bronze but any advise is welcomed!

  9. Avatar for Michael Fletcher Michael Fletcher says:

    My grandparents bronze grave marker is severely green. I was in process of cleaning and I got a lot of green off but still a long way to go. I feel it should be able to be cleaned and restored. How do i remove all the green from the surfaces

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Michael,

      The safest way to remove patina without damaging the marker is to have it restored professionally. We offer refinishes where we will send you and empty box and you can send your marker to us, and we will restore the marker. Please email us at bronzeorders@trigard.com if you are interested if having your marker refinished.

  10. Avatar for Danny McComb Danny McComb says:

    What is the average cost of restoring a bronze grave marker?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Danny,

      On average you would be looking at around $200-$300 plus shipping depending on the size. I hope this helps!

  11. Avatar for Nathan Tubbs Nathan Tubbs says:

    I have a photo but wasn’t able to post it here my sons headstone marker is looking bad I need to know how to fix it

  12. Avatar for Concerned Concerned says:

    My niece recently said she used vitamin E oil on my moms bronze headstone although it looked really nice I’m concerned if it will damage it?! I told her to check on line before using anything besides what is sold there at forest lawn. Can you tell me if it will be ok?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      I can only speak on behalf of a Trigard Memorials product, but I don’t see anything in vitamin E oil that would cause an adverse reaction. However, prolonged use of any product other than gentle soap and water on a bronze marker can be unpredictable. I think you would be OK, but I would use it sparingly.

  13. Avatar for JoyceKimble JoyceKimble says:

    Can you recommend a good wax to use on my son marker!

  14. Avatar for kim kim says:

    Can you use brass cleaner to bring back the shine

  15. Avatar for Pagasa S Ochoco Pagasa S Ochoco says:

    what is the best type of brass / bronze headstone cleaner and wax? Do you have a brand?

  16. Avatar for Reed H. Christiansen Reed H. Christiansen says:

    Does a bronze marker mean only the raised bronze letters and design, or also the background color of the marker. Do we clean the background the same way at the same time? Thanks

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Reed, yes a “bronze marker” means the entire marker consists of bronze. The raised letters are usually polished so you can see the raw bronze, and the background is usually painted or powder coated. Yes, you will treat the background and the letters the same because they are both treated with the same clear coat, and the clear coat is what you are cleaning.

  17. Avatar for Priscilla Evans Priscilla Evans says:

    I really need help. My Grandsons tombstone is Rose color. A family member, for Halloween, put rubber, window clings on his tombstone, I removed them but not in time. Now the imprint from the glue that the window clings have has sank into the tombstone itself. I’ve tried everything from different sources, safe products but it has done nothing. No improvement at all. Could you please tell me if there is anything I could use.

  18. Avatar for Hess Jones Hess Jones says:

    I was told to use baby oil on Bronze stone! But wouldn’t it leave a sticky film on it and dirt and dust stick to it.

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Sorry to hear that, Hess. I wouldn’t recommend using any type of oil on a marker. That will most likely result in adverse reactions with the clear coat.

  19. Avatar for Dana Thomas Dana Thomas says:

    My Grandfather’s bronze headstone seems to be turning a rust color. Any suggestions on how to get that fixed? Would it need to be redone?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Dana, have you tried cleaning with just some soap and water? The key will be determining whether the rust is on the clear coat, or if it has penetrated the clear coat and is present on the actual bronze itself. If is has penetrated the clear coat, it may need to be refinished.

  20. Avatar for Sharon Bacon Sharon Bacon says:

    Besides soap and water, what is the best cleaner and polisher for my parents grave marker? Around the wording on the marker is always so dirty looking even after cleaning with soap & wate with a soft toothbrush. Help?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Sharon, I’m sorry you are having trouble. I don’t recommend using anything stronger than soap and water because if you do, you risk compromising the clear coat. If the marker is visibly dirty even after a good cleaning, the clear coat may already be compromised, and you may need to have the marker refinished in order to restore it. Contact your cemetery to see what options they have for refinishing.

  21. Avatar for Linda Lofgren Linda Lofgren says:

    What do I do if the gold raised letters on the bronze headstone are worn off? After I clean it, I assume I will need a metallic gold paint to repaint the top of the letters? Is there a certain kind of paint you would suggest?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Linda,

      Do you mean the color has worn off the letters, or the entire letter as worn off? If the raised letters are still there, they can be polished and the natural bronze can show again. I would not paint them. If the entire letter has worn off, you may need to seek out a new headstone. The best option would be to reach out to your cemetery and see what options they have available.

      I hope this helps!

  22. Avatar for PennyAxa PennyAxa says:

    I was using a plastic brush to clean off dirt from my Mom’s bronze marker. Unfortunately, it appears I scratched it somehow, didn’t think a plastic brush would do so. Will waxing help fill in the scratches, they are not deep at all of course -I’m still surprised I ended up scratching it -I’m so worried.

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Penny,

      I’m sorry to hear this happen to you. Most of the time plastic brushes are OK but it depends on how sharp and brittle the plastic is. I would suggest using a cloth from now on. Yes, I think the waxing would be worth a try. Think of it like a car that has gotten scratched at the car wash. As long as the scratches aren’t too deep, should should be able to buff them out.

  23. Avatar for Dawn Mitchell Dawn Mitchell says:

    Will beeswax work?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Dawn,

      We have not tested beeswax on our clearcoat. We usually recommend and automotive wax.

  24. Avatar for Doris Fitzhenry Doris Fitzhenry says:

    my husbands marker the clear coat is cracking and pealing. Is there anything that can be used to remove the clear coat?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Doris, we would not recommend manually removing the clear coat as that will immediately expose the bronze to the elements which will accelerate the process of oxidation and patina. I recommend reaching out to your cemetery to see what options they have for refinishing the marker. We can bring it into our care and restore it back to the original state as long as there is no damage.

  25. Avatar for Josh Faulk Josh Faulk says:

    I’m looking to protect our daughters marker the best we possibly can, it’s still freshly put in and gets dirt embedded in the crevices constantly. I waxed it today for the first time but was wondering if it was safe to apply a ceramic coating like for car paint?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Josh,

      I do think a ceramic coating would be safe to apply, however, I would wait some time until after the wax has worn away to apply it. That way you won’t have a layer of wax between the marker and the ceramic coating.

  26. Avatar for Ronie Ronie says:

    My fathers bronze marker will be installed soon. We are researching on how to keep it looking shiny and new as long as possible. Thank you for the above tips and recommendations. Made note of Ivory Soap, Simple Green & Renaissance Wax. What are your thoughts of car spray waxes on bronze markers, such as Meguiars Ultimate Spray Wax? Too harsh?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Ronie,

      If you can put it on a car exterior you SHOULD be able to put it on a marker, however, I would refrain from overusing any of those chemicals.

  27. Avatar for Charles Luersman Charles Luersman says:

    My dad’s bronze marker was splattered with concrete while the installers were putting in a concrete footer for a nearby marker. What will safely take the concrete off?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Charles, the only chemicals that are strong enough to remove concrete are too harsh to put on a marker. Is there a way to use a thin wire, such as a piano wire, to slide between the concrete and the surface of the marker?

  28. Avatar for Charles Luersman Charles Luersman says:

    Thanks. I will give that a try. Some of the concrete is on the lettering. I will see what can be done.

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      You’re welcome, Charles. Good luck! If there is permanent damage to the marker, we may be able to refinish it for you and fix it. Give us a call if that’s the case!

  29. Avatar for Rosie Rosie says:

    Hi. My dads marker is all brass. The cemetery told us we would have to paint the body of it so we did. The whole thing – painted part and brass part – is all chalky and grey. What can we do?

  30. Avatar for Pat Pat says:

    Sparkle from silk flowers has adhered to our bronze marker. How can we clean it or will entire marker have to be professionally refinished?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Pat,

      My guess would be that anything that would remove the glitter would also remove the clear coat. I would suggest having it professionally refinished. Please give us a call if you are interested.

  31. Avatar for Stuart Stuart says:

    I’ve seen a recommendation that a paste made fromwhite vinegar and salt is good to restore bronze markers. Your thoughts?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Stuart,

      I have never experimented with vinegar on a bronze marker, but vinegar is acidic, so I would avoid using it on a clear coat.

  32. Avatar for Martha Martha says:

    My husband’s bronze marker is on a granite base and surrounded by granite.is it safe to use a granite spray cleaner on the marker also?

    • Avatar for Ethan Darby Ethan Darby says:

      Hi Martha,

      I would not recommend putting granite cleaner on bronze. I would be concerned that the granite spray would damage the clear coat.

  33. Avatar for Jogreen Jogreen says:

    Would you recommend using emery paper to sand off letters on plaque that have lost shine ? Thank you

    • Avatar for Angel Jett Angel Jett says:

      Thank you for your interest on this topic. We would not recommend attempting to alter the appearance of a marker yourself (other than cleaning it). Polishing letters would remove the clear coat, therefor compromising the longevity of the marker overall.

  34. Avatar for Dawn magness Dawn magness says:

    My dad‘s headstone marker is eight months old and it is bronze and I’ve been using mild soap and water to clean it let it dry and then I sprayed lemon pledge is that OK

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      Thank you for your inquiry Dawn. The mild soap and water is definitely recommended for cleaning a bronze marker, but we do not recommend using the lemon pledge, as those chemicals could have a reaction to the bronze over time. If you have any more questions feel free to reach out.

  35. Avatar for Susan in the Hudson Valley Susan in the Hudson Valley says:

    My parents’ church has a columbarium. The plaques are bronze with raised lettering and a thin raised ridge about one inch in from the sides. The flat part of the plaque is brown, but the letters and the ridge were originally bright. My Dad’s marker has oxidized to the point that you cannot read the name on the plaque (other markers are in the same shape). Will soap and water restore the letters to the bright bronze so they can be seen? The columbarium is outside with a partial roof, facing north, but a hard rain would certainly hit the plaques. The church is in Alabama – and far from salt water. I am assuming there is a clearcoat on the whole plaque, but I’m not sure.

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      I’m sorry to hear that you have issues with the finish of your parents plaque. We recommend the DAWN dish washing soap diluted, however it sounds like we may be a bit past the cleaning stage. It is possible to refinish the plate to its original finish. You will need to get the cemetery involved to the point of removing from the columbarium. Depending on when you had it placed, it could still be under warranty from the original manufacturer. If not, then we can refinish for you but there may be a cost involved. Do you have the original order from the cemetery to see where they ordered it?

  36. Avatar for Kevin Stephenson Kevin Stephenson says:

    I’m the caretaker for a bronze memorial plaque in one of our city parks. The plaque has been there more than nine years. The clear coat is flaking off and I’m worried weather will take its toll on the plaque without a good clear coat. Is there a clear coat product I could use to re-seal the plaque after thoroughly cleaning it? Thanks.

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      Hi Kevin, we can send you more information on the care of a bronze memorial plaque. I have reached out to our project manager, Blake Swinford to give you the information requested. He will be reaching out to you shortly.

  37. Avatar for GL GL says:

    Thank you for all your helpful comments above. We had some bronze gravemarkers professionally refinished a couple of years ago. The icy weather caused problems though (I presume due to melting ice seeping under the clear coat), and last year, we had to have the gravemarkers touched up by the same company. They now refuse to work on the gravemarkers again, and have left the care of the markers to me. Right now, the markers look good, but I’m planning to travel soon to that locale to apply some sort of finish/wax/clear coat before winter strikes. I had intended to use a Minwax marine base product, but after reading your posts, I’m uncertain. Any thoughts? Thanks, and God bless you.

  38. Avatar for Deborah Collin Deborah Collin says:

    What bronze cleaner do you recommend? My mother’s marker went down last July, and my father’s in October. I didn’t risk cleaning them until November, when I followed your instructions and used Simple Green, Ivory dish soap, a gentle brush, lots of water, and soft towels before applying a light coating of Treewax and gently buffing with a very soft cloth. My father’s marker still looks new, with the beautiful gold letters shining through. My mother’s has taken on a universal leather brown.It looks so drab, by comparison. (He couldn’t have outshined her on his very best day.) Keri has sent home a bottle of Durasheen, but I’m reluctant to try it, until I can restore the gold lettering on my mother’s marker. Is this possible?

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      Hi Deborah,
      You can try the Dura sheen first and if that doesn’t work you can reach out to our customer service at (800) 798-4900 and let them know it will need to be refinished to bring it back to its former glory. Getting the letters to be more gold probably won’t be a cleaner process. It may need to be refinished.

  39. Avatar for Janie Whitehead Janie Whitehead says:

    I’m having my parents, bronze marker refinished. Hard water really did a job on it. My husband’s marker is being placed this week. I’m so anxious to keep both markers looking good. I’ve heard some people say that they keep them Looking nice by spraying olive oil onto the bronze. Is that advisable?

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      Hi Janie,

      Thank you for reaching out. We have not experimented with using olive oil on bronze grave markers so I would not recommend trying it. I would stick to cleaning it with a mild dish soap, warm water, and a lint free a cloth about every three months. Since it sounds like you live in area that gets a lot of rain, you may need to clean it more frequently to prevent water spots. I hope this helps!

  40. Avatar for Mandy Mandy says:

    My sons headstone looks like the clear coat is coming off around letters. What can I do to make it stop or correct it? The base is red if that makes a difference

    • Avatar for Crystal Crystal says:

      Hello, Mandy. There is a video in the post that provides information about how to clean a bronze grave marker. If you’ve watched it already and the methods given don’t address the issues you’re experiencing, please contact Blake at blakes@trigard.com. It may be beneficial to include a picture in your email if possible. Thank you!

  41. Avatar for Stephanie Harris Stephanie Harris says:

    Hi Ethan. I’ve tried to read most of the postings here. My question is, can d2 be used on bronze? My parents’ double marker is bronze on granite, pretty typical. The monument company recommended d2 (D/2) to clean the marker, but I mostly see it used for stone or granite. What is your opinion? Thank you. I have a picture but couldn’t see a way to insert it here.

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      Hi Stephanie. I am writing on behalf of Ethan and apologize for the delayed response! We have not tried to clean our bronze markers with d2 and would probably advise against it. My concern is that it could damage the clear coat. Trigard Memorials generally recommends using a lint free cloth with warm water and a mild soap.

  42. Avatar for Megan P Megan P says:

    Hi Ethan, can D/2 cleaning solution be used for WWII and older brass grave plaques? Would Tampico or horsehair brushes be acceptable for cleaning? What type of wax is reccommended? Thank you!

    • Avatar for Becca.B Becca.B says:

      Hi Meghan. I am responding on behalf of Ethan and appreciate you reaching out. We have not tried to clean our bronze markers with d2 and I would probably advise against it. My concern is that it could damage the clear coat. We typically recommend using a lint free cloth with warm water and a mild soap. If needed, a soft bristled brush can be used. I am afraid that a Tampico or horsehair brush would be too abrasive.

  43. Avatar for Mary Ellen Mary Ellen says:

    so if the marker is totally green like the staue of liberty you should leave it alone?

    • Avatar for Jill Darby Jill Darby says:

      Deciding whether to attempt cleaning a marker with patina is a personal choice. With that being said, when dealing with a marker that has developed a green patina (like the Statue of Liberty), it is important to exercise caution to avoid causing harm to the underlying bronze. Depending on the extent of the patina, it may be advisable to refrain from cleaning it altogether.

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