Heavy soiling removed gently from the Doctors' Monument in Sofia

Reduced pressure in steam mode

Kärcher cleaned the culturally significant Doctors' Memorial in the Eastern European city of Sofia, removing strong organic soiling such as lichen and algae from the granite surface. For the cleaning of the 8 meters high pyramid-like monument, which was built 135 years ago, a three-headed team took action. This cleaning project was Kärcher's first in Bulgaria.

“We are happy to be able to clean the 135-year-old Doctors' Monument”, Thorsten Moewes comments, Restorative Cleaning Specialist at Kärcher and in charge of the cleaning works in Sofia. “As this is our first cultural cleaning project in Bulgaria we are delighted to clean an important monument in the capital Sofia that is a favorite site of both the people living in Sofia and visiting it." With a hot water high-pressure cleaner, the entire dirt was gently removed from the surface without any chemical additives. The cleaning experts used reduced pressure in steam mode.

Environmentally friendly steam-cleaning to prevent further damage

Organic dirt like lichen and algae had built up over the last century in the granite of the Doctors' monument. However, it was moss and soot in particular that had damaged the structure the most. All of the dirt will be gently removed from the Doctors' Monument, without any chemical additives. The sections in need of cleaning will no longer look like patches. No harmful agents will be used in carrying out of the 2-day activities, just steam. Environmentally friendly steam-cleaning is a very good and tested method in preventing further damage and extending the life of a cultural site.      

Commemorating the fallen doctors

The Doctors' Monument was built in 1883-1884 to commemorate the doctors and medicinal workers who died in the Russian-Turkish Liberation War. The Doctors’ monument was declared a cultural site of national significance in 1955. The Garden, where it is built, was renovated by the Sofia Town hall in 2012.