Dora Cemetery Association
Bronze grave marker cleaning instructions
1 Remove any leaves or debris lying on top of horizontal markers before cleaning.
2 Clean dirt and grime with water and a nylon brush on large flat areas of the
marker. Get in between lettering and decorations with a toothbrush to remove
embedded grime.
3 Rinse marker with water and dry with a soft terrycloth towel.
4 Dampen a soft cloth with mineral oil and apply to the surface of the marker (be
sure that the mineral oil is only applied to the bronze and not any supporting
material).
5 Scrub the marker with a nylon brush, followed up with a clean cloth to remove
discoloration as you work across the marker. You may need to apply several
applications of the mineral oil as you work.
6 Remove residual oil with a clean cloth, taking special care around the lettering.
7 Finish with a light application of WD-40 or car wax to put a sheen on the marker
and protect it from the elements. Periodic re-application of a protectant with a
soft cloth is recommended to keep the marker looking bright. Note: You may
want verify with other sources whether you want to use WE-40 or a car wax. If
you do use these be sure they are only applied to the bronze grave marker and not
any other stone that may be supporting it.