The following E-Mail below came to me from the Stamper Message board & I
thought it would be good to pass on to all my Cousin's & fellow Researcher's.
Tony
I read some time ago that using pieces of Styrofoam chunks (like those that
come in large packages to hold items steady) to rub over stones that are
covered with moss and lichens would work without being nonabrasive. I have
to tell
you that my husband and I decided to try this on some ancestors' old spire
like monument up in RI that was put up abt. 1898. We couldn't read 5 of the
6
names inscribed plus decorative detail due to it being covered with lichens
and
moss. We rubbed the whole monument with the Styrofoam chunks that made the
lichens just roll up, then periodically poured gallon jugs of water over our
work just to keep rinsing off debris. Then we both used soft bristled
brushes to
gently rub around all the names and letters that were filled with moss also,
then repeated the whole process again with the Styrofoam and water.
We ended it all by lightly spraying a fine mist of Tilex for Mildew on the
worse parts and letting that spray air dry so as to kill any remnants of
moss. I
couldn't believe the improvement!! We did this last year and I must say the
monument looked brand new when we finished and still looks great as of 2
weeks
ago.
The caretaker even came over to see what we were using and couldn't believe
the 100% improvement with 45 min. of work by us. I now carry a little
plastic
bag in my trunk with Styrofoam, brush, and tilex. Just add water to an old
milk jug and you're good to go!