This is nonsense. Two claims are made here, neither of which have any evidenciary support whatsoever. 1. Shaving cream leaves behind an oily residue: What evidence shows a residue is left behind? I have seen a lot of *CLAIMS* that a residue is left behind, but I have never seen anyone actually show that a residue is ACTUALLY left behind. What experiment was ever done that even had as an intention to show a residue persists, and what technique was used to show it? The answer is...none. The experiment has never been done. 2. The residue attracts bacteria Please...what experiment showed that bacteria were more likely to come in contact with the stone after being shaving creamed? What bacteria can metabolize shaving cream (an emulsion)? Please cite any source that shows the data. Please remember when doing genealogy, even in things somewhat tangent to it...genealogy without documentation is mythology. I really wish people would do some actual research before spreading ridiculous old wives tales. The idea that shaving cream harms tombstones is a HOAX brought to you by the same people who brought you the "ban dhmo" hoax. My experience is that people who believe this balderdash also have a lot of Cherokee Princesses in their pedigree. Brock Way Mary wrote: Shaving cream leaves behind an oily residue that attracts damaging bacteria and will eventually flake off layers of the stone. The only thing that should be used on a tombstone is plain water. The Association of Gravestone Studies has more on this subject. http://www.gravestonestudies.org/ Mary Douglass, CG ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php