As one who has done my share and more of tombstone cleaning in Missouri and Arkansas, let me say that I have used some items that the 'experts' have sworn are bad for the stones. Trouble is, my grandparents used the same when they started cleaning stones in the 1920s, and it has never done damage to any of the stones they cleaned. Every 10 years or so, I go back and clean them again, using the same ingredients. My family stones which have had this type of cleaning done for close to 100 years with no harm, looks better today than ever, even close to looking 'brand new'. When I have come across an old stone coated with mildew and moss, there's only one thing that kills it... .don't scream or have a heart attack now.... it's BLEACH! AAGHHH, I can hear you now, but allow me to explain that when a stone is covered with mildew and moss [and I'm talking about the old marble ones], a solution of bleach AND water using a SOFT brush, will not only remove the mildew and moss but will kill it for regrowth, and cause the stone to endure much longer! The mildew and moss harms the stone more than anything bleach and water can do. I know by posting this, some kind soul will point me to the websites which states otherwise.. .don't bother. I've read them all, and my personal experience with these coated with MO/AR moss and mildew shoots down anything the so called experts have to say. They don't live in Mo and Ar dealing with the elements and our humidity. They don't go to the dark woods and hidden cemeteries out in the middle of no where, where very few researchers or caretakers ever go. Its sad that some stones which were allowed to be left alone with no cleaning for so long, now has moss and mildrew so eaten on them, that NOW they ARE impossible to read. I WILL say that I am VERY careful with the amount of solution of bleach [1 bleach part to 3 water parts] using a soft brush and being careful not to scrub too hard. I also make sure to have straight water to rinse.. .bear in mind, this is for the EXTREME cases! A soft brush with water generally helps others which are not as bad. A couple of the stones I cleaned were so bad that I had to use a stronger bleach mixture, but that is certainly not the norm for my cleaning. I no longer clean other family's stones, but will continue to oversee the cleaning of my own families' stones. I know some of you are die hard in your belief that bleach is not to be used at any cost. I don't share your belief, and you won't change my mind, just as I won't change yours. I think its more important that we do the best we can, in our own good conscience, and take care of those which we come in contact in our researching. We'll never agree on everything, but then, that would be boring and unAmerican. So, this is what I do for the extreme cases, and it works wonders. I've never used shaving cream, couldn't see doing that when powder/baking powder is so much easier and neater. But, I am interested in others' experiences when it comes to shaving cream. .... does it actually CLEAN a stone, or make it readable? Lanita in MO

I am wondering if any of you have tried taking "rubbings" off the hard to read stones. When I was in Polk County three summers ago, I tried on some stones that I had previously been told were blank, nothing carved in them. I only had computer paper and soft pencils with me but lo and behold, I managed to take an impression of what was on the stones..... all very small stones in Reed Cemetery, six little babies. I have since purchased the proper "crayons" that are used to do rubbings in the UK in case I ever get back to Polk County. One doesn't have to rub hard, and I am probably the only one who will ever do it to those little stones so really, little if any damage. I think where there was a problem in the UK was in the places that masses of tourists were doing rubbings every day, all year long over many years. Just my inflated 2 cents worth! Bev British Columbia, Canada