I would like to thank you for this video. I was able to get a bottle of Sparks and follow you instructions. My parents headstones had heavy hard water stains. The sponge and cleaner worked as advertised. I was going to order more, but everyone one is out of stock. Do you have an alternative?
So, here I am again! I live in a red clay area, we have no brown/black dirt. I have been using D2. I have combo black and red problems, mainly on flat headstones. The black is coming of beautifully, but the red is not. I have been thinking that the red is red clay damage, but now I am wondering if it is in fact rust. Whatever the case, the D2 is not removing it. These graves, so far, are from 1944 - 1985 and are granite. I guess I am just wondering how know the difference. Are the granite more likely to be rust? I have noticed a marble one near our area that is in very bad shape, and it appears to have everything but the “red” problem. I’m about to clean that one with the D2and find out, but not before I get my problems figured out today. Also, on the 1944 one, I do believe that the polish on the granite is eroded, will the Sparks effect that situation (althught I do realize that granite IS granite)? One reason I have turned my attention to the red clay, is that when the D2 suds up while I am cleaning, the black residue that is coming off is like red mud before I rinse it. It’s just baffling.
It very well could be rust. It very well could be stained from the red dirt. Either way you just have to keep cleaning it and letting the Sun bleach the color out over the next couple months, even years. When it comes to the polish "eroding off" it can either be where the producer of the stone took the polish off or it could be some type of hard water or film on the granite. To tell the difference between Granite and Marble is that a general rule of thumb Marble is very white in color.
@@BottandSonsMonument It hasn’t eroded any and hopefully the sun will bleach it out, it’s just getthg a little warmer here now. It’s definitely granite. I cleaned a marble one and the red clay vanished in about 20 days, that one was only 6 years newer dating 1950. I guess the granite will just take forever, if ever, since it’s a much harder stone. Thanks for all of your advice!
D2 is a product that is made to remove algae and lichen from headstones, especially on marble. D2 is not made to remove hard water deposits off of the headstones. We have found that not only are acid based cleaners safe to use on granite headstones, but it is the best at removing hard water from them. If you like D2 that is great! But with the knowledge of over 150 years of being in business and over 30 years of personally running this business we have found the acid based cleaners are the best for removing hard water from granite headstones! Thanks for your comment.
Yes Acid! We have been in business since 1875 and have found that acid based cleaners are safe and most effective on "granite" headstones to remove hard water.
Very nice video and explination. Thanks for mentioning the uses of d2 and sparks.
Glad it was helpful!
I would like to thank you for this video. I was able to get a bottle of Sparks and follow you instructions. My parents headstones had heavy hard water stains. The sponge and cleaner worked as advertised. I was going to order more, but everyone one is out of stock. Do you have an alternative?
We still have Blue Bricks in Stock and that would be the only thing we can recommend. It may take more bricks to clean the headstone.
My fathers headstone has lichens growing in it. Should I get D2? The lichens are also growing into the lettering.
D2 is great for cleaning lichens off headstones.
So, here I am again! I live in a red clay area, we have no brown/black dirt. I have been using D2. I have combo black and red problems, mainly on flat headstones. The black is coming of beautifully, but the red is not. I have been thinking that the red is red clay damage, but now I am wondering if it is in fact rust. Whatever the case, the D2 is not removing it. These graves, so far, are from 1944 - 1985 and are granite. I guess I am just wondering how know the difference. Are the granite more likely to be rust? I have noticed a marble one near our area that is in very bad shape, and it appears to have everything but the “red” problem. I’m about to clean that one with the D2and find out, but not before I get my problems figured out today. Also, on the 1944 one, I do believe that the polish on the granite is eroded, will the Sparks effect that situation (althught I do realize that granite IS granite)? One reason I have turned my attention to the red clay, is that when the D2 suds up while I am cleaning, the black residue that is coming off is like red mud before I rinse it. It’s just baffling.
It very well could be rust. It very well could be stained from the red dirt. Either way you just have to keep cleaning it and letting the Sun bleach the color out over the next couple months, even years.
When it comes to the polish "eroding off" it can either be where the producer of the stone took the polish off or it could be some type of hard water or film on the granite.
To tell the difference between Granite and Marble is that a general rule of thumb Marble is very white in color.
@@BottandSonsMonument It hasn’t eroded any and hopefully the sun will bleach it out, it’s just getthg a little warmer here now. It’s definitely granite. I cleaned a marble one and the red clay vanished in about 20 days, that one was only 6 years newer dating 1950. I guess the granite will just take forever, if ever, since it’s a much harder stone. Thanks for all of your advice!
Is D2 safe to use on pink granite with lichens growing on it? What is the best thing to use?
Yes D2 would be your best option
Does time of day matter when using the products? Or temperatures?
I was told by Botts to clean when is cool outside... preferably in the morning.
I went to buy this on your website and everything is sold out 😢 will it be available anytime soon?
We have found the company that bought out Sparks, We are working with them to get product, hopefully by the end of June 2023.
thank you Mike Bott
Will your product work on Red Granite head stones ???
Yes it will work on Granite Headstones.
Acid?? wash it all into the ground I guess?
Acid with the Blue Brick found at bottandsons.com is the best way to clean a headstone.
@@BottandSonsMonument I prefer D2 and water. It seems to work well.
D2 is a product that is made to remove algae and lichen from headstones, especially on marble. D2 is not made to remove hard water deposits off of the headstones. We have found that not only are acid based cleaners safe to use on granite headstones, but it is the best at removing hard water from them. If you like D2 that is great! But with the knowledge of over 150 years of being in business and over 30 years of personally running this business we have found the acid based cleaners are the best for removing hard water from granite headstones! Thanks for your comment.
NO ACID ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Yes Acid! We have been in business since 1875 and have found that acid based cleaners are safe and most effective on "granite" headstones to remove hard water.
@@BottandSonsMonument1875?
You have to use acid