I have tried soap and various products without success, any advice will be appreciated.

You can ask at the cemetery to see what can be used. I know for cleaning stone you can use a mild dilluted for of acid but your going to have permission to use it also if there is any fill in the carvings you may not have that as a choice.

Marble is very porous and almost impossible to deep clean. Once the dirt gets in the pores, it is really hard to get it out. You may have some success with vinegar but nothing stronger.

Many thanks ma641 and cdad,I went to the cemetery today and spoke to the sexton who confirmed your advice, acid cleaning solutions are not allowed in the cemetery, and the only way to get the headstone cleaned is for a maison to lift it and transport it to his workshop at a estimated cost of betweem £300 and £400.
I'll most certainly be giving vinegar a try tomorrow. Thanks Again.

Kind of wondering what you are trying to clean off it.

That's a good question handyman. The headstone is white marble made in Portugal.There is some green marking on it maybe some form of algae and on the top of it there is some thick black smudges. I tried cleaning it today with vinegar and elbow grease that failed to move it.

You may try some chlorine bleach mixed with water and a stiff brush. That may remove the black smudges but may get rid of the green. The green is probably mold or even a very fine moss. Just use a diluted solution to start with.

Many thanks Handyman for the advice, I'll give it a try next week and let you know the outcome.

Don't know how reliable this advice is, but I did find this site;

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...9TuHJfiQFNAtAA

Wow Alty,the information on that site is very informative, I'll be trying some of their advice next week after I've tried handymans suggestion first. Thank You.

Update---All the solutions advised on Google are prohibited, I tried the vinegar remedy and it worked but very slow. A grave digger who had been observing my plight for some time gave me some good advise and it worked----dab onto the headstone using a sponge and a good quality bleach leave for thirty min's then gently wipe it clean---it worked after only one application.thank you to everyone for your advise.

Thank you for coming back and updating us.

That is what I has suggested you do also. Glad it worked.

There is a certain charm of headstones in a cemetery aging into and melding with their environment. It shows a certain respect that they are allowed to do this in peace. Headstones are very attractive as they grow moss and that weathered look.

To some, it shows a lack of respect or neglect. Or the sense of the loved ones being forgotten.

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Originally Posted by Handyman2007

To some, it shows a lack of respect or neglect. Or the sense of the loved ones being forgotten.

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I have never heard of that before. Respect is normally kept up when the grave site is tended with care, flowers planted, etc. it is called 'perpetual care' and I pay for that service every year.

And you pay for perpetual care because you want the gravesite to be clean and neat correct? That is showing respect. I take care of my grandparents grave . My grandparents were wonderful people and I always had great respect for them and by keeping the headstone neat it continues that respect. I know people who get very upset when their loved ones head stones are tampered with... most people do... There may be people who believe that nature should just take it's course when it comes to headstones but where I live, people like them taken care of and clean.

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Originally Posted by Handyman2007

And you pay for perpetual care because you want the gravesite to be clean and neat correct? That is showing respect. I take care of my grandparents grave . My grandparents were wonderful people and I always had great respect for them and by keeping the headstone neat it continues that respect. I know people who get very upset when their loved ones head stones are tampered with ...most people do....There may be people who believe that nature should just take it's course when it comes to headstones but where I live, people like them taken care of and clean.

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They are too far away for me to go them.

Handyman--you certainly did suggest I use the bleach remedy--thank you.
Tickle--I fail to see what is attractive about a headstone covered in green moss and black marks, I've seen people scratching and scraping the headstones to try and find the names and dates of the person or persons buried there, thus causing so much unrepairable damage to the headstone.A little occasional care can prevent any future problems.

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Originally Posted by Alfama

Handyman--you certainly did suggest i use the bleach remedy--thank you.
Tickle--I fail to see what is attractive about a headstone covered in green moss and black marks, I've seen people scratching and scraping the headstones to try and find the names and dates of the person or persons buried there, thus causing so much unrepairable damage to the headstone.A little occasional care can prevent any future problems.

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In my part,of the world only the rich nowadays can afford headstones and they are usually dressed granite, making it very difficult for mildew and moss to adhere to. Others in the much older parts of the cemetery are from late 1800s, time worn and well worn.

You have your opinion, but my family buried have no headstones but plaques in the ground, but like I said, I order perpetual care for them.

At the same time you will have a hard time finding cemeteries that will allow chemical cleaning.

Stick to your opinion if you so desire.