Memorial Care
Gently. Rinse with plenty of clean water, work the soil out of the lettering with a soft natural-bristle brush, and use only a pH-neutral, memorial-safe cleaner. Never use bleach, acids, metal polish, wax, wire brushes or a pressure washer — those strip the protective patina and speed up corrosion of the very detail you want to preserve.
Bronze markers develop a patina — a thin protective layer that forms as the metal ages. Good cleaning removes dirt, oxidation and grime from the lettering and emblems without stripping that patina. Harsh products do the opposite: bleach and acids eat into the metal, metal polishes and waxes trap moisture and streak, and abrasive pads or wire brushes scratch the surface and wear down the raised detail. The result is a marker that looks briefly shiny and then corrodes faster.
If the bronze is heavily oxidized, set into a granite base, or is a VA-issued veteran marker you want treated with extra care, a professional using a cemetery-safe biological process is the safest route. It takes real hand time, and it's the only way to bring the detail back without shortening the marker's life. At Legacy Memorial Restorations, veteran and military markers receive a 50% honor discount, and every job includes dated before & after photos.
Learn more about veteran memorial restoration, see why you should never clean a headstone with bleach, or request a free quote.
Gentle, cemetery-safe bronze cleaning with dated before & after photos. Tell us the cemetery and the name.
Request a Free Quote Call (409) 998-0833