How to properly care for the graves of loved ones?

BONGO, a company whose history began with caring for the graves of Poles and foreigners outside the country’s borders, has been supporting families for years in maintaining the dignified appearance of burial sites. Below, we present a practical guide on how to care for a grave throughout the year and when it is worth turning to professionals for help.

How to properly care for a grave throughout the year?

Effective grave care should be spread out over time, as the needs and scope of necessary tasks change with the seasons. However, it’s difficult to give a definitive answer as to how often a grave should be maintained and what seasonal tasks should be performed. Everything depends on the cemetery’s location, the type of material the headstone is made of, and the family’s individual capabilities. It is generally accepted that grave maintenance should take place at least four times a year—with the scope of work adjusted to the season each time.
Spring and autumn are times for thorough cleaning—this is when it’s worth performing deep cleaning of the gravestone using soft brushes, cloths, and appropriate detergent solutions, replacing decorations, checking the monument’s technical condition, and making minor repairs if necessary. In summer, inspection work and care for the plants on the grave will suffice, while in winter it’s important to remove snow and check for any damage caused by frost. Each time you clean the grave site, remember to recycle waste and use candle-sharing stations where available.
In Polish culture, the time preceding All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day is a period of special care for the graves of loved ones. During this time, people conduct thorough cleaning of the burial site—removing leaves, tidying the surroundings, renewing decorations, placing fresh or artificial flowers on the grave, and lighting large memorial candles.
If we are unable to provide regular care ourselves, professional grave care services can be helpful. This ensures that the resting place of our loved ones always looks dignified, regardless of the season or our availability.

When is professional help in grave care justified?

Although many people try to care for the graves of loved ones on their own, it’s not always possible. In cases of long distances, lack of time, or health limitations, it is worth using the services of professional grave care companies—such as BONGO.
Specialists have the proper cleaning agents, tools, and experience, allowing them to carry out not only basic cleaning but also more advanced tasks such as stone impregnation, lettering restoration, moss removal, or tidying the surrounding area.
Professional services are also useful in special situations, such as when we want to prepare a grave for an important family ceremony, holiday, or death anniversary but are unable to visit the cemetery in person.

Why is caring for a resting place so important?

Caring for a grave is not only a matter of aesthetics—it is, above all, a form of showing respect to the deceased and maintaining a spiritual connection with them. Even the simplest acts, such as lighting a candle or cleaning the grave, allow us to pause for a moment, remember our loved one, and honor their memory.
Additionally, a well-maintained grave is a sign of respect for other cemetery visitors. A clean, orderly space becomes part of a shared memorial environment and reflects the personal culture of those who care for it.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that taking care of graves is also a form of intergenerational education—by teaching children and grandchildren to care for the graves of ancestors, we pass on important values.
Regular grave maintenance is an essential part of our culture of remembrance. Whether we care for the grave ourselves or with the help of professionals, we should always approach this task with attention and respect.

BONGO, which originated from the Office for the Care of Foreigners‘ Graves, fully understands the importance of these efforts—and has been supporting families for years in caring for the resting places of their loved ones. If you would like to entrust grave care to specialists, take advantage of our grave care services.