1) Tammie Dillon, Education Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, has developed a cemetery manual entitled, GRAVE CONCERNS. It is only $5 and is a wonderful resource on many topics related to cemeteries, including a chapter on basic cleaning techniques. For more information about this manual contact the AHPP, 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. E-Mail: Info@dah.state.ar.us 2)From the MINNOW CREEK CEMETERY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER, May 2000. Lynette Strangstad, nationally known gravestone conservation specialist and restoration artisan warns that use of bleach and other corrosive cleaners can age soft tombstones by fifty years with each use. Don't use anything harder than the stone itself for cleaning purposes. Wire brushes scratch away at the surface of the stone and will cause an old and soft material to wear away quickly. Sandblasting and high-pressure spraying removes part of the surface of the stone and makes the inscription less sharp and legible. Bleach reacts with marble and limestone to cause deterioration of the stone. Any harsh chemicals can cause discoloration and flaking of the stone. The safest choice for cleaning tombstones is a plastic bristled brush and plain old water. Marble and limestone markers should be cleaned with water only or household ammonia. Use one cup to four cups of water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after cleaning. Sandstone should be cleaned with water only. Lichen and other mossy growths should be removed before etching of the stone occurs. Swimming pool disinfectant, Calcium hypochlorite, can be used to remove biological growth. Dissolve one pound dry to four gallons of warm water. A "Popsicle" stick (never a metal instrument) may be used to clean out the recesses on tombstones. If the stone is old and soft, use a cotton swab or a soft toothbrush. This information was obtained from Strangstad's, A GRAVEYARD PRESERVATION PRIMER, 1995. Debra Blackard