Hi! I’m Erin and I clean a lot of headstones. I am a public servant (in libraries and cemeteries). My conservation experience started in the archives, doing small repairs, surface cleaning, and digitization of paper and books. I then turned to the graveyard and undertook work days with Vermont Old Cemetery Association, completed the Millennial Stone Cleaner course work, reviewed National Parks Service courses, and completed a volunteer public service project in Cemetery on the Plains in Windham, New Hampshire.

I am a member of the New Hampshire Cemetery Trustees Association, Vermont Old Cemetery Association, New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association, and the Association for Gravestone Studies. I am a cemetery trustee, vice president of NH Archives Group, trustee at the Robert Frost Farm, and am on the Landmark Committee for the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. I am also a member of many historical societies, genealogical societies, and library groups. I share my expertise in graveyards and history throughout New England – and I love digging up something old while learning something new.

Here are some FAQs about my work cleaning headstones. If you don’t find what you are looking for, please feel free to email me at Trackyourdead@gmail.com

Why would you clean a headstone?

Great question. Many people love the romantic look of headstones taken by time. They’re often covered with lichen, so dark they are no longer readable, and marred with fractures. As a dedicated public servant with conservation training (I never call myself a conservator), I’m here to do a gentle treatment that allows a longer life of the original historical record. Stones are porous and lichen and other biological growth dig their roots into the surface of the stone. This causes the stone to break down. Treating headstones with sound conservation methods and materials will stop the damage in its tracks and give the headstone more time.

What do you use to wash a headstone?

I typically use D/2 to clean an entire cemetery. It is a trusted and tested biological solution that has been used by the National Parks Service. It works into the stone over time and continues to fight biological growth long after its initial cleanse. For a budget friendly clean, I sometimes wash the stone with Orvus which is a gentle pH neutral soap that is often used for vintage textiles. If that is the case, the stone is heavily rinsed and sprayed with D/2 as a finish. I also have use Endurance by Atlas Preservation and have really enjoyed the results.

What brushes do you use?

Nylon brush, natural brush, no brush? It depends on the job – and the stone. I use a variety of different brushes. Some of these are specifically made for headstone preservation while others are soft and effective. For granite uprights with rough sides, I prefer Atlas Preservation’s Tampico Brush. For soft marble, I love my shoe shine brushes. My favorite all purpose brush is the Harrison Howard Horse Brush. I often use toothbrushes to remove buildup from lettering.

What other tools do you use?

To remove excess biological growth, I use gentle plastic scrapers. I use skewers as the job requires – typically on deep granite lettering. I bring water pumps and sprayers.

I need to clean my mom’s, aunt’s, grandfather’s headstone. What should I use?

I recommend grabbing a starter kit from D/2 Bioshop or the Gravestone and Monument Cleaning Starter Kit from Atlas Preservation. Read the information on the spec sheet you receive with the kit! It will have everything you need to clean that family stone. You can find reliable information on headstone cleaning on the National Parks Service. It’s always a great idea to check in with the cemetery before you go.

Do you need permission to clean headstones?

I do, yes. I am in the historical section of the cemetery where headstones have already undergone a lot of wear and tear from the elements (and a variety of conservation treatments over time). In fact, for my projects, I have a formal agreement that outlines the scope of work, expectations, liability etc. If you’re cleaning a family headstone, it’s not a bad idea to check in with the cemetery either way. It will give you an idea of if they have cleaning efforts in place and if there is water readily available.

Do you work in modern cemeteries?

I prefer to work in the historical section with headstones dating from the 1950s and back.

Can I hire you to clean my grandmother’s headstone?

I’m sorry! I typically don’t work for individuals. I tend to work on small scale public service projects in conjunction with municipalities, cemetery trustees, churches, heritage groups etc. It keeps me quite busy!

What’s the cost?

That’s the best part. It costs nothing to the cemetery as of summer 2027. These public service projects will be fully crowdfunded by social media. Basically, I record, I clean, I share history. Views pay for my work and supplies. This is a great way to fund a preservation project for small cemeteries!