How to Clean Your Statue

!±8± How to Clean Your Statue

When you are cleaning anything made out of stone, certain care must be taken, depending on the type of stone that it is and the size of the statue. Outdoor garden statues and monuments will need special care, as they are prone to all the barrages of the elements, including fungus, lichens, mold, and mildew. Without regular cleaning, several layers of grime can build up which will eventually end up chipping or cracking the rock. A good statue cleaner will break through these layers, nourishing the stone and helping with restoration. Be sure to first determine what type of stone that you are working with, however, because the cleaner will depend on the stone.

Softer stones, such as limestone, sandstone, or marble, will need a more gentle type of statue cleaner. However, hard stones such as granite are more durable and will withstand the elements better as well as harsher cleansers. A good rule of thumb is to give outdoor statues a thorough cleaning every six months if you live in a harsh climate or one that has a high degree of humidity; and on an annual basis in other climates. This will keep them in good shape, keeping them clean year-round.

To begin, it's a good idea to rinse the statues thoroughly with water. This rinse-off will remove any surface dirt that is clinging to them. Then, using a paintbrush or toothbrush, you can start to brush around the statue to get into all the details and remove dirt that is more deeply embedded. After this first brushing, you can then take your statue cleaner, and combine it with water if the directions indicate to do so. Using this mixture, you can then brush the cleaner into the stone using circular motions. Give the statue a good rinse after this second cleaning, and let dry thoroughly.

Finally, once the statue has dried, you can give it a good look and see if you have removed the majority of the residue or not. If there are still stubborn etchings or dirt, you may need to repeat the cleansing process with your statue cleaner. After this cleaning is done, the next step would be to polish the statue using a buffing solution of some kind. This can be more difficult for ornate statues or sculptures, but will help restore the sheen of the natural stone and can really make your sculpture come alive.