My New Year's Resolution Was the Family Plot, and I Actually Kept It
headstone cleaning in New York | headstone cleaning in Florida
I’ll be honest — most of my New Year’s resolutions die by February. Last year I swore I’d learn to play the banjo. Bought a cheap one online, tuned it once, and now it’s a dusty decoration in my office. But this past January 1st, I did something different. I drove out to the old Methodist cemetary in rural Pennsylvania, where my great-grandparents are buried. The plot had been neglected for maybe a decade. Grass knee-high, a sapling growing right through the corner of the headstone base. I stood there in the freezing cold, coffee in hand, and said out loud: ‘I’m going to clean this mess up.’ Didn’t tell anyone. Just did it. And somehow — for the first time in years — I kept a resolution.
Here’s the thing about cemetery cleanup in winter. Most people wait until spring, when the wheather’s nice and the ground is soft. But January and February are actually prime time for one specific job: removing biological growth (lichen, moss, algae) while it’s dormant. Cold temps slow down those organisms, and the stone is less likely to trap moisture during treatment. Plus, you avoid the summer rush of weddings and memorial services. So if you’re thinking about a New Year cemetery cleanup resolution, now is the time. Not March. Not April. Now.
Why Start with a Family Plot (and Not Some Random Grave)
Look, I get it — cemeteries are overwhelming. Some of them have thousands of stones. But a family plot is manageable. Small. You can see the boundaries. My great-grandparents’ plot is maybe 20 feet by 15 feet. That’s it. Four stones total. I could wrap my head around that. If you’re making a New Year cemetery cleanup resolution, pick one plot. One set of stones. Not the whole cemetery. That’s a recipe for quitting by mid-January. Start small. One plot, one weekend, one stone at a time. Trust me.
The Right Tools for the Job (Spoiler: No Bleach)
Big mistake I made my first time: I almost used bleach. Thought it would kill the moss quick. But bleach destroys marble and limestone — it eats the binder that holds the stone together. Never again. What I actually used was D/2 Biological Solution. It’s a pH-neutral, non-ionic cleaner designed specifically for historic stone. You spray it on, wait 10-15 minutes, and rinse with a garden sprayer (gentle, not a pressure washer). Took me three tries to get the technique right. First time I sprayed too much, left puddles. Second time I let it dry too long. Third time was perfect. You also need a soft nylon brush — never wire. Wire brushes scratch the surface and create grooves where more moss grows. I use a Tampico fiber brush from a hardware store. Costs about $12. Lasts years.
Timing Is Everything: Cold Weather Cleaning Tips
January mornings are brutal. I was out there at 7 AM, 22 degrees Fahrenheit, fingers numb. But here’s the weird advantage: the lichen is brittle when it’s cold. It flakes off easier. And D/2 works fine down to about 40°F — you just need to keep it from freezing on the stone. I mixed a small batch in a thermos and only poured out what I needed. Another tip: work in sections. Don’t spray the whole stone at once in winter. It’ll ice over. Do one side, wait, rinse, then the other. And wear gloves. I didn’t the first time. My hands looked like raw hamburger for a week. Worth it for the result, but dumb.
The Emotional Part Nobody Talks About
Cleaning a headstone is weirdly intimate. You’re touching something that’s been outside for 120 years. The dates, the names, the little carved flowers — you see them up close. I found a small chip in my great-grandmother’s stone that I’d never noticed before. Probably from a lawnmower. That made me angry. Then I realized: the grass was so high because nobody had been mowing. So the chip was my fault, sort of. Or the family’s fault. Point is, this resolution isn’t just about cleaning. It’s about showing up. Being present. My kids came with me the second weekend. They didn’t say much, but they helped hold the hose. That’s something.
Maintenance: Easier Than You Think
Once it’s clean, keeping it clean is laughably easy. I go back every three months with a bucket of water and a soft brush. Ten minutes, tops. The biological growth hasn’t returned yet — it’s been eleven months. D/2 leaves a residue that discourages regrowth for a while. I also trim the grass around the base with hand shears. No weed whackers near the stone. Weed whackers chip marble like crazy. If you stick with a New Year cemetery cleanup resolution, the hard part is the first deep clean. After that, it’s just upkeep. And honestly, I look forward to it now. It’s quiet. Peaceful. No emails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use vinegar to clean a headstone?
A: No, please don't. Vinegar is acidic. It can etch soft stones like marble and limestone, leaving a dull, rough surface. Stick with a pH-neutral cleaner like D/2 Biological Solution.
Q: What if the headstone is already cracked or flaking?
A: Stop. Do not clean it yourself. Cracks and spalling mean the stone is fragile. Water and cleaning solutions can seep in and make it worse. Contact a professional conservator. In the meantime, just clear away debris and weeds from the base.
Q: How long does a deep clean with D/2 last?
A: Depends on your climate and the stone type. In my experiance, one good treatment keeps lichen and moss away for 6 to 12 months. Shaded, damp spots need more frequent cleaning. Sunny, dry plots can go years.
Q: Is it okay to pressure wash a granite headstone?
A: Even granite can be damaged by pressure washing if you hit the wrong angle or use too high a PSI. It can dislodge the stone from it's base or blast away patina. Hand-cleaning with a brush and garden sprayer is safer and more respectful.
Q: Do I need permission to clean a family plot?
A: Yes. Always check with the cemetery office first. Many have rules about what cleaners and tools you can use. Some require you to sign a waiver. I called the caretaker ahead of time — he just asked that I not use bleach. Easy.