Grave Cleaning

swannie_girl

Can anyone help me please. Does anyone know of a person/company who would clean the headstone of a grave in Carnmoney Cementry. My Mum used to have this family headstone cleaned each year, unfortunately she is now in a nursing home and can't remember the guys name or telephone number. So any replies would be much appreciated.

montyrebel

Can you not clean it for your mum, probably take less than 20 minutes. I just use pledge on my grans and a yellow duster, gets it clean enough

facingthefuture

This is true! DIY can work just as well. As for the lettering get some gold leaf and don't worry too much about going over the lines. After it dries use a blade to scrape off the top in seconds and hey presto - perfect lettering. Thats the way the guys that charge a fortune do it!

montyrebel

gold paint also works

belfastgirl23

Actually while we're on this slightly morbid topic, can anyone recommend somewhere (pref belfast) that does good artifical flower bouquets or arrangements for graves? Not the wreath type thing ideally. I'd like something that would last a while not just fade away in a few weeks. Sorry to hijack OP!

delain

ebay

be warned that sometimes there are rules/regs regarding grave decorations. My OH works for my local council and sometimes works in the cemetery and if there are non regulation items without specific permission they are required to remove and store them.

Also,on occasion they find artificial flowers blowing around in the breeze and have no way of knowing where they came from until someone rings the civic offices and says

'the artificial roses have been stolen from *****'s grave!'

So, if something is missing from a grave, ask the two blokes in the shed, they can probably tell you
(and put the runaway flowers back where they came from!)

swannie_girl

Many thanks to all you wonderful people out there. The only problem about a DIY remedy is the grave is quite old about 1950 is WHITE marble and very discoloured the black lettering believe it or not is in quite good condition. I have tried to clean the headstone with marble cleaner might as well have used fairy liquid altho in saying that the fairy liquid may have worked better. Thought of bleach but wouldn't risk it just in case I ruined the marble. Think guys I am going to have to just pay a professional to do it. Would love if someone could recommend one. :A

KiWi13

hey there what about contacting the local council and asking do they know of anyone who does this or possibly the local funeral parlours or anywhere that does headstones.

sometimes they know a lot more than we think. at least it would be somewhere to start?

I know my great aunt wanted a headstone for a grave in downpatrick and she lived in scotland phoned to the local flower shop who happened to do headstones and they did a fantastic job and accepted it over the phone and she paid the balance when she came to stay. so a phonecall might just do the trick.

good luck

freddie_2

I am a funeral director and will double check tomorrow the best way to clean the white marble. Some types clean up best with an acid solution.
do you know if the grave stones are also white?

I will try to post tomorrow with some more help.

swannie_girl

Thanks Freddie and yes the stones are white marble also. Hope you can come up with something will be much appreciated. :T