How to Save Stone Monuments

Pick off any plant growth on the monument such as mold or moss. Use plastic tweezers to pull out plants in crevices but do not scratch the stone with the tweezers.

Mix 1 tsp. dichlorophen with 2 cups distilled water if you cannot remove the plants on the monument. Apply the mixture to the surface of the stone with a cloth, and brush away the plant growth with a soft-bristled brush. You can buy dichlorophen at a gardening store.

Spray the stone monument with clear water until it is completely rinsed and soaked. This helps loosen the dirt and debris and makes it easier to clean.

Scrub the surface of the monument with a soft-bristled brush. Use a large brush for the entire monument and a small toothbrush to clean any crevices or stone details. Be as gentle as possible to prevent permanent damage to the monument while still applying enough pressure to remove the dirt. This is especially important of old monuments.

Rinse the stone with water and continue scrubbing it until all of the dirt has been removed. When you are finished, rinse the stone monument again.

Mix 2 cups of distilled water with 2 cups of clear alcohol, such as vodka, and 1 tsp. of mild dishwashing detergent if the stone monument is still dirty.

Spray the solution on the surface of the stone and gently scrub it with the soft-bristled scrubbing brushes.

Rinse the stone completely with distilled water.