Comparative evaluation of UV-vis-IR Nd:YAG laser cleaning of beeswax layers on granite substrates

► Effect of laser cleaning at four Nd:YAG laser wavelengths. ► Irradiation of beeswax layers on granite samples representing real surfaces. ► Laser cleaning is not a layer by layer removal process. ► Wax-granite interface plays a fundamental role in laser cleaning. ► Wax weakened by absorption of radiation at 266 nm increases the cleaning efficiency.