How to Clean a Bronze Grave Marker Without Damaging It

Bronze markers are common in memorial parks, where flat markers keep the lawn level. They are built to last for generations, but bronze is a soft metal, and the wrong cleaner can scratch it or strip its finish in minutes. Gentle is always the right approach.

Before you start

• Ask the cemetery. Some cemeteries clean markers themselves or have rules about what visitors may use.
• Accept some color change. Bronze darkens over time and can develop a brown or greenish patina. Much of that is the metal protecting itself, not dirt.
• Pick a mild day. Cleaning in direct summer sun leaves water spots; frozen ground and ice make it harder.

What you need

• Clean water, ideally a gallon or two.
• A mild, non-ionic soap (many cemetery and conservation guides suggest this type).
• A soft brush, such as a soft toothbrush or a soft nylon brush.
• Soft cotton cloths for drying.
• Optional: a clear paste wax for a protective finish.

Step by step

1. Clear grass clippings, leaves and soil from around the marker.
2. Wet the whole surface with clean water.
3. Wash with a little soap in water, working gently with the soft brush. Use the toothbrush for lettering and edges.
4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water so no soap is left behind.
5. Dry completely with a soft cloth to prevent water spots.
6. If you choose, apply a thin coat of paste wax and buff it with a clean cloth. Do not spray coatings onto the marker.

What never to use

• Steel wool, wire brushes or scouring pads, which scratch bronze.
• Brass or metal polish, which can strip the finish the maker applied.
• Bleach, ammonia or harsh household cleaners.
• A pressure washer.

When it needs more than cleaning

Deep corrosion, a lifted marker, or a finish that has worn away is a job for the cemetery or a monument company, which can refinish bronze properly. For stone headstones, see our guide to cleaning a headstone; the methods are different.