Good Intentions: A Gravestone Cleaner’s Cautionary Tale (and a Bit About Bleach)

Honoring Veterans in Stone: A 2026 Tribute Series

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:00:17 GMT

Honoring Veterans in Stone: A 2026 Tribute Series

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, I’ve found myself thinking about where our history truly lives. Not just in books or archives, but in the cemeteries we pass every day — where the names of those who served are etched in stone.

Over time, those inscriptions can fade beneath layers of biological growth and weathering, making it harder to read the names and stories they were meant to preserve.

A Season of Honoring Service

At Sacred Stones, my work is rooted in careful conservation — using appropriate, gentle methods to help ensure that gravestones remain visible and respected for generations to come. Each stone is approached individually, with consideration for its age, material, and condition.

As we move into 2026, I wanted to find a meaningful way to honor the veterans whose service is recorded on these stones. That led to the creation of a season-long Veteran Tribute Series .

From spring through early fall, I’ll be offering a series of historically inspired gravestone cleaning promotions, each tied to a moment in American history. The goal is to give families and communities an opportunity to care for the memorials of those who served — in a way that feels both timely and meaningful during this milestone year.

Throughout the season, one or two promotions will be offered each month, each available for a limited time.

How to Participate

If you know of a veteran whose service is etched in stone, I invite you to take part.

You’ll be able to find current promotions and details:

In The Weirs Times
On the website: SacredStonesNH.com
On the Sacred Stones Twitter/X page

Requests for service must be submitted through the contact form:
�� SacredStonesNH.com/contact

Why This Matters

Gravestones are more than markers — they are lasting records of service, sacrifice, and family history.

Through proper conservation, those stories can be seen again clearly, allowing names and legacies to remain visible with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Looking Ahead

This tribute series is my way of honoring those who served, while helping ensure their memory remains visible for generations to come. As we mark 250 years of our nation’s history, there’s no better time to care for the stones that help tell it.

As we mark this historic year for our nation, I’ll also be setting aside time to care for veterans’ monuments and memorials in our public spaces — helping ensure they reflect the respect and gratitude they deserve. If there’s one in your town that could use some attention, I’d truly appreciate you pointing me toward it.

Wrapping Up the Season — And Looking Ahead to 2026

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:45:00 GMT

Wrapping Up The Season and Looking Ahead to 2026

As I wrap up my first official season with Sacred Stones, I can’t help but feel both proud and grateful. What began as a hopeful idea turned into months filled with meaningful work, beautiful transformations, and a growing sense of purpose. What began as a new chapter for work I’ve been doing as a volunteer for years became a busy, meaningful season filled with families, history, and some truly rewarding transformations.

To everyone who trusted Sacred Stones with their gravestones this year: thank you. Your support truly means the world to me. If you feel I provided meaningful care to a stone that matters to you, I would be grateful if you'd consider leaving a review. Your feedback not only helps others understand what to expect, but it also helps me continue offering the best service I can.

Gratitude and Growth

I’m grateful to all of the individuals, families, towns, and organizations who trusted me with the care of their gravestones and monuments this year. Being invited to preserve such meaningful pieces of our shared history is something I never take lightly.

I’m also thankful for the conversations along the way — the questions, the memories shared, and the curious onlookers who stopped to ask what I was doing. Those moments reminded me that gravestone preservation isn’t just about cleaning stones; it’s about connection, history, and community.

This first year also came with some practical lessons as a new business owner. I learned the value of putting clear deadlines on quoted prices, the importance of verifying in person how many stones, and in what condition, I’ll be working on before estimating a job, and the self-discipline it takes to consistently track mileage. None of these tasks are glamorous, but all of them matter, and they’re part of what will help Sacred Stones grow stronger and more dependable in the years ahead.

Reflecting on a Year of Change

This first year in business was full of lessons — both practical and unexpected. I learned not to quote a price without first verifying how many stones are at a gravesite, that the folks working in the Concord Cemetery Department office are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, and that I’m still figuring out the best places to spend money on advertising. Each experience, big or small, taught me something valuable about running a business and serving my clients well.

It was also a year of experimentation. Earlier in the season, I tested Endurance Gravestone Monument Cleaner, the new product from Atlas Preservation that emerged after their split with D/2 Biological Solution. I’ve continued using Endurance since that first trial on the Civil War monument in Concord, and it continues to impress me.

Its consistent performance — and how easily it rinses away biological growth — has made it a new go-to in my cleaning kit. I’m looking forward to seeing how it holds up over the winter months and into next spring.

Looking Toward an Historic Year

As 2026 approaches, our nation will celebrate 250 years of independence — a milestone that reminds us how much courage, sacrifice, and perseverance built this country. For me, that milestone highlights the importance of remembering and honoring those who served, and the monuments and gravestones that carry their stories. Each stone is a testament to endurance, and preserving them is a way to show our respect for the generations who came before us.

I’d love your help in shining a light on patriotic monuments across New Hampshire, so I'm launching an informal challenge: let’s find the patriotic monuments across New Hampshire that deserve a bit of attention before the 250th. If you happen upon a military or historic stone that looks like it could use a bit of care — whether it’s in your town or simply something you notice in your travels — please email or text me a photo and tell me the location. I’m hoping to feature some of these monuments in future blog posts and, when possible, work with the towns that steward them so we can give these stones the respect they’re due.

Until the Next Season

For now, my tools are cleaned and packed away, but the mission remains the same — to bring stones from neglect to respect, one at a time.

To all who made this first season so rewarding: thank you for your trust, your kind words, and your encouragement. Here’s to a restful winter and a bright, meaningful year ahead.

Will Endurance Stand The Test of Time

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:29:57 GMT

Will Endurance Stand The Test of Time? - A Civil War monument. A new product. And a little leap of faith. Here’s what happened when I tested Endurance for the first time.

Will Endurance Stand The Test of Time?

In my first blog post, I extolled the virtues of D/2 Biological Cleaner. However, the landscape shifted when ties were severed with their primary US distributor, Atlas Preservation .

It came to light that for years, Atlas had been dealing with a difficult business relationsip, diligently patching damaged packages, absorbing the losses from inadequately packed shipments, and addressing customer concerns regarding D/2. Instead of walking away, Atlas decided to act. They began developing their own cleaner with one goal in mind: to serve the gravestone conservation community even better than before. That’s how Endurance Gravestone Monument Cleaner was born.

When Jonathan Appell announced the split, Atlas listed Endurance on their website, even before this new product was ready to ship. I noticed in the product description a note: "Ask about a free sample." So I did. Courtney at Atlas quickly replied that they would be happy to send me a free quart to try. You can bet I said yes - after all, who doesn't love a free chance to put a promising new product to the test?

Curiosity Abounds

Jill Huckins and her crew at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord had seen the same video and were happy to hear that I had received some to try. They graciously allowed me to use the monument dedicated to the 11 "Unknown But Not Forgotten" Civil War Soldiers as our test subject. That's how much trust we all have in the folks at Atlas Preservation - enough to try out a brand new product on such an important stone, even though D/2 has long been considered the gold standard.

I wet down this stone (and the post behind it) and using a plastic putty knife scraped off the lichen. After dampening everything once more, I sprayed on the Endurance Gravestone Monument Cleaner and walked away. Well, I snapped a few more pictures first, then walked away.

Did It Work?

One week later, I returned—and I was impressed. It worked like I remember D/2 working when I first discovered it: miraculously.

While D/2 remains effective, many have noted discussions over the past couple of years about it seeming... thinner? Perhaps a less concentrated solution than it once was. When I first learned about D/2 from Richard Maloon at an NHOGA workshop, he even recommended cutting it by half with water. I haven’t heard anyone suggest doing that in quite some time.

I did put in some scrubbing effort on the stone and utilized my trusty toothbrushes and wooden skewers to delve into the intricate engravings. With nothing more than water and a little elbow grease, I managed to extract even more of the staining.

What’s Next

I’ll be back in Concord soon to check on this monument again and I am genuinely excited to see just how much brighter this monument will undoubtedly be.

Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing updated photos and results soon. If Endurance keeps performing like this, it will have earned a permanent spot in my cleaning kit.

If you’re wondering whether a stone you care about could benefit from a professional cleaning— I’d love to hear from you .

“It Looked Fine Just a Few Years Ago…” — How Quickly a Gravestone Can Go From Honored to Overlooked

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:47:51 GMT

It Looked Fine Just A Few Years Ago - How Quickly a Gravestone Can Go From Honored to Overlooked

It happens more often than you’d think.

A client recently asked me to check on his family’s gravestone in Pine Grove Cemetery in Grafton, NH. He hadn’t visited in a few years and wasn’t sure if it needed cleaning. I hadn’t seen the stone myself in about two years and remembered it looking fine back then.

But when I arrived, I was genuinely surprised.

In just that short amount of time, the granite had developed noticeable staining and lichen—signs of quiet neglect that had crept in like an uninvited guest. What once looked well cared for had started to lose its dignity, the story behind the stone slowly being smudged away by time and the weather.

After a gentle, respectful cleaning (with a well-earned Veterans Discount), the stone looked like itself again—clean, calm, and standing proud. The photos I took four days later show the difference a little care can make. Honestly, it looked like it had been waiting for someone to notice.

Why does this matter?

Gravestones are exposed to New England’s harshest elements—snow, rain, sun, humidity—and even just a couple of years can leave a lasting mark. What looks “okay” from memory can quietly become a shadow of itself.

That’s where Sacred Stones comes in.

Whether it’s been 2 years or 20, I treat each stone as a story worth preserving. If it’s been a while since you visited your loved one’s grave, consider making a trip. (Grandma’s probably wondering why you don’t bring her flowers anymore.)

Need a hand? I’m here.

If you do visit and realize the stone isn’t looking the way you remembered—I’m happy to help. I bring years of experience, a soft touch, and a whole lot of respect for the lives these stones represent.

I’m not a big company. It’s just me—someone who believes that care, kindness, and a little elbow grease can bring honor back to neglected places.

Fill out the contact form, send an email to Cindy@SacredStonesNH.com or call 603.217.7452

Let’s restore a little dignity, one stone at a time.

Good Intentions: A Gravestone Cleaner’s Cautionary Tale (and a Bit About Bleach)

Wed, 21 May 2025 02:43:20 GMT

Good Intentions: A Gravestone Cleaner’s Cautionary Tale (and a Bit About Bleach)

The Story Begins...

I ran into a friend in town the other day and told him about the new gravestone cleaning business I’ve started. I even handed him one of my shiny new business cards—more on that in a minute.

He mentioned that he and his wife try to get out once or twice a year to clean his mother’s headstone. Then he said the word that made me shudder: bleach . I quickly told him he shouldn’t be using that.

Why You Should Never Use Bleach on a Headstone

In the gravestone restoration world, the go-to product is called D/2 Biological Solution . It’s a biological cleaner that won’t harm the stone—or the surrounding plants and wildlife. I pay about $46 per gallon (plus shipping), but if you’re just cleaning one or two family stones, a quart runs just under $20.

I truly can’t sing the praises of this product loud enough—it’s a total game changer.

If you can’t or don’t want to hire me to clean your ancestral gravestones, please consider purchasing D/2 or a similar environmentally safe headstone cleaner —especially in rural New Hampshire , where many of us rely on clean well water . Bleach might make something look clean in the short term, but it can cause lasting damage to both the stone and the environment.

The Business Card Debacle

Now, about those business cards...

I was wicked excited to get this business off the ground and start telling people how transformative it is to see a family gravestone restored to dignity. In my rush, I left an S out of my email address when preparing marketing materials.

I had over 500 business cards printed and had already handed out more than 100 before I noticed the mistake—at 9:30 last night. And of course, I had a sales meeting this morning with a gentleman who maintains a private cemetery in Laconia .

So, I spent the night “fixing up” enough cards to bring to the meeting and placed a rush order for corrected ones. It reminded me of that line from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:

“The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.”

If you’re starting a new business, here’s my advice: slow down, take a breath, and ask your most persnickety friend to proofread everything before you send anything to print.

Preserve Your Family’s Legacy—The Right Way

If you want your mother’s headstone cleaned, fill out the contact form at SacredStonesNH.com . Or, if you prefer the DIY route, pick up a bottle of D/2 and learn to do it yourself the right way.

But please— don’t use bleach .

About the Photo

The picture above doesn’t really relate to this story although there is a gallon of D/2 in the right foreground with the label turned away from the camera—but I couldn’t resist including it. It’s my friend Aime Jacques on one of our first volunteer headstone cleaning days in Grafton, New Hampshire. I had just taught her what I’d learned from the New Hampshire Old Graveyard Association , and she dove right in.

I miss Aime immensely; she embodied the spirit of what Sacred Stones is all about: taking something forgotten or overlooked and bringing it from neglect to respect .

Ready to restore dignity to your family’s gravestones?
Visit SacredStonesNH.com /contact to request a professional cleaning or, learn more about doing it yourself—the right way. Your ancestors deserve better than bleach.