Comparitive Study of Commercially Available Cleaners for Use on Federally-Issued Headstones

National Cemetery Administration
Progress Update as of March 10, 2007
Mary F. Striegel, Chief, Materials Research, NCPTT and
Jason W. Church, Materials Conservator, Materials Research, NCPTT

National Cemetery Administration
Progress Update as of March 10, 2007

This report provides information and progress on the comparative study of commercially available cleaners for federally issued headstones undertaken by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training and the National Cemetery Administration through March 10, 2007.

1. Executive Summary

2. Background

3. Phase One of Study

• 3.1 Choice of Cleaners
• 3.2 Choice of Cemeteries
• 3.3 Selection of Headstones
• 3.4. Evaluation Methods for Change in Appearance and Biological Activity
• 3.5.1.Documentation of Headstones
• 3.5.3. Cleaning Headstones
• 3.5.5 Follow-up Biological Activity, June 2006 Report

4. Phase Two of the Study

5. Current Research Activities

• 5.1.1.1. Thirty-Three Day Cleaning Study
• 5.2. Field Studies
• 5.3. Methods of Analysis
• 5.3.3.1. Optical Microscopy

6. Comments and Discussion