A Guide on How to Clean a Bronze Plaque

It is important not to use harsh chemicals (or use hard or sharp objects) to clean the surface of the plaque as this will damage the protective clear coat of a bronze plaque: the clear coat has been applied to ensure that the plaque finish lasts as long as possible.

Tools
To clean a bronze plaque, you will need a bucket, some clean cloths, distilled water, non-ionic soap (like Simple Green, etc.), a soft-bristled brush, a toothbrush, an applicator brush, and some Q-Tips. When using soap, avoid harsh detergents as it could affect the protective clear coating which was applied to your plaque when it left our manufacturing plant.

STEP 1: Remove Loose Dirt/Debris
Remove any loose dirt or debris and completely remove any leaves, foliage and other dirt and debris covering the bronze grave marker.

STEP 2: Spray
Spray your bronze plaque with a mild soap (such as Ivory dish soap or Simple Green) and water.

STEP 3: Scrub
While the bronze plaque is still wet with the soapy water, use the toothbrush to reach small spaces and crevices and use the soft bristled brush to gently scrub the bronze plaque to remove any remaining dirt or debris using medium pressure.

STEP 4: Rinse
Rinse the bronze plaque with clear clean water to remove any remaining soapy water, dirt, or debris.

STEP 5: Wipe
Use a dry soft lint-free cloth to carefully dry the plaque.

STEP 6: Wax (optional)
As an optional step, you can apply a thin layer of wax (without silicone or other harsh chemicals) such as Trewa Clear Paste Wax but before doing this ensure that the plaque is dry and completely rinsed off and free from all applied chemicals, dust, and debris.

After the bronze plaque is completely dry, it should be free of lint, pollen, and other debris before carefully applying and buffing a paste wax.

While applying the wax, be careful of letters, photos, and other flat relief emblems. If you get wax on these features, use a Q-tip or cloth to remove the excess wax from the centres for a smooth and clean appearance.

Lightly and gently buff the surface with a soft wax detail and cloth removing any excess wax.

Refinishing
If your bronze memorial plaque been damaged or the clear-coat has worn away as a result of age, please contact us at sales@obronze.com as we can assess, prepare, clean, repair and refinish your memorial to look like new.  To do this, the bronze plaque would need to be removed from its base before being shipped to us – please contact your cemetery on how they can do this on your behalf.

Normal Wear
When a bronze plaque leaves our manufacturing plant, a third-party automotive grade clearcoat is applied to ensure durability but it is normal for the protective coating to diminish over time as it is subject to weather exposure and debris buildup.

Bronze is an alloy material (and contains copper, tin, and zinc) and when it is exposed to the air, the metals begin to oxidize and develops a patina coating which can be green, blue, red, black, or brown, which is a sign of oxidization and does not harm the bronze underneath.

After the protective clear coating of your bronze plaque has worn away, the raw bronze materials are directly in contact with the atmosphere and could begin to patina which is a normal process which some people prefer.

As a bronze plaque faces exposure to the outdoors, other people prefer the original look and appearance of the bronze plaque and choose it be restored to the original flawless condition.

When bronze grave markers are lying flush with the ground, unintentional damage can also happen. In many cemeteries, a main cause of plaque damage occurs when the marker is accidentally run over during lawn and landscaping maintenance as horizontally placed ground bronze markers versus vertical wall markers are more vulnerable to the climate and other harm, causing the protective coating to wear more quickly.

Performing regular Spring and Fall bronze cleaning and maintenance can prevent unattractive debris buildup and prolong the life of the protective coating which has been applied to the bronze plaque.

For those who wish to restore a bronze plaque to its original pristine condition, you can trust Obronze to perform effective and lasting restoration services as we have decades of experience and access to the proper tools and original finishes to achieve superior, long-term results.