Graffiti Removal Tips & Tricks

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Graffiti Removal Tips Tricks
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Synopsis

1. Analysis of graffiti removal techniques
2. Graffiti Removal Chemicals
3. Current methods of graffiti removal
4. Various Graffiti Removal Products
5. Tools and techniques for removing graffiti
6. How do you remove graffiti from brick?
7. How do you remove graffiti from metal?
8. Tips for Removing Graffiti From Wood, Plastic

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Analysis of graffiti removal techniques

• Painting over it
• If your property is covered with graffiti on a
  large scale, repainting it may be your best
  option. Painting over the graffiti is not only
  easier but also cheaper when it comes to removing
  paint from a large area. You can also take this
  opportunity to get the wall painted with a glossy
  enamel, which can act as protection against
  graffiti attacks in the future much better as
  compared to a matte finish. You can also keep an
  extra can of the same paint colour as a quick
  measure in case the property gets vandalized
  again.
• Latex or oil paint
• Oil-based paint is stronger as compared to latex,
  which is easier to clean as well as inexpensive.
  Even though it is not recommended, if required
  oil paint can be applied if the temperature is
  below freezing point.
• Sealers
• After applying the new layer of paint, it would
  be a good idea to use a protectant or sealer. The
  purpose of these products is to seal the pores on
  the surface to prevent future graffiti from
  adhering to the wall. Once the wall is sealed, it
  would get easier to remove any graffiti if it
  returns.
• Foam brushes
• It would be wise to own some foam brushes as they
  are a cheap quick remedy. If the surface gets
  vandalized again you can use them to seamlessly
  blend the new paint into the surface to assist in
  graffiti removal.

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Graffiti Removal Chemicals

• Chemical Paint Removers
• They work for various surfaces that include
  brick, wood and cement. These solvents are
  extremely strong therefore it is generally only
  sold in specialty industry settings. They include
  Naphtha, Alcohol, Lacquer Thinner, Acetone,
  Methylene Chloride, Turpentine and Mineral
  Spirits.
• Wipes
• Wipes specifically made to remove graffiti get
  rid of minor spray paint as well as graffiti
  marker spots. They come with a scrubber or cloth
  that can be directly used on the affected
  surface.
• Pressure Washing
• This technique involves combining graffiti
  removal chemicals with pressure washing to
  effectively get rid of graffiti. While it works
  fairly well, it may wear down the quality of the
  affected surface.

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Current methods of graffiti removal

• When you will engage in graffiti removal, you
  realize how tough it really is, especially when
  you are removing it from unpainted, rough brick
  surfaces. The best solution to remove graffiti
  from painted surfaces is to repaint it, although
  it is recommended that you have a proper supply
  of the graffiti removal tools and solvents, as
  they are necessary for rapid response. Another
  reason why this is ideal is that the graffiti
  found nowadays is easier to remove than the one
  used in the past.
• For metallic surfaces like utility boxes,
  mailboxes, lampposts etc., the best solution to
  remove graffiti is the usage of the graffiti
  removal solvent. They work amazingly and the
  graffiti is removed as soon as it is applied. Not
  many things are required for applying the
  solvent. All you need is a spray bottle, a steel
  wool, and a cleaner.
• For brick surfaces, you have to use professional
  cleanups. Often, there is a need for a
  biodegradable emulsifier. This will help you in
  reducing the amount of hard work required to get
  rid of the graffiti. It is generally a difficult
  task to tackle a rough surface with average tools
  like wire brushes or solvents. They do seem to
  get the job done but most of the time a hint of
  the graffiti is left on the surface.
• For painted surfaces like the boundary walls of
  the household, the best method to cover up the
  graffiti is to repaint the surfaces. For this,
  all you have to buy is matching paint like the
  wall with the graffiti on it. The secret to
  removing graffiti is to respond as rapidly as
  possible because once graffiti is strongly
  imprinted, more severe methods have to be used.

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Various Graffiti Removal Products

• Enviro-Solutions Graffiti Remover
• Most effective for painted and unpainted smooth
  surfaces
• Least effective for concrete
• Largely a good product. It does not run while
  wiping as it has a viscous consistency. It is
  ideal for the majority of smooth and hard
  surfaces as well as graffiti types. The amount of
  time the product is supposed to be left on the
  surface depends on the surface and graffiti type.
  For instance, leaving it for 3-5 minutes may work
  better in certain cases whereas, in others, the
  product can respond immediately to the graffiti.
  Moreover, it can disturb the paint of the surface
  in certain cases, however, that is more likely to
  happen due to scrubbing. However, the product
  does not completely get rid of graffiti on
  concrete surfaces and only fades it out.

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Various Graffiti Removal Products

• SOYsolv 1
• Most effective for painted and unpainted smooth
  surfaces
• Least effective for wood, painted concrete
• The product has a trigger spray bottle and is
  overall effective. However, its smell is really
  strong. It works efficiently on both painted and
  unpainted smooth planes without rubbing off the
  paint of the surface as much depending on the
  graffiti type. It also works to some extent on
  plastered concrete, in that it removes the
  majority of the graffiti paint however it leaves
  some shadow. On wood, it smears the graffiti a
  bit but does not get rid of it completely. It may
  perform better on wood and concrete if a pressure
  washer rinse is done afterward. The product may
  be more effective in some cases if left to sit on
  the affected area for 3-5 minutes.
• BG-Clean
• Most effective for painted and unpainted smooth
  surfaces
• This product has a trigger-spray too. It works
  particularly well when trying to remove marker
  graffiti from smooth surfaces. Its performance
  may vary for other graffiti types. Generally, the
  product does not cause any disturbance to the
  paint of the surface unless a scrub pad is used
  aggressively. It works pretty similar to soapy
  water.

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Various Graffiti Removal Products

• Taginator
• Most effective for wood, concrete and unpainted
  brick
• Least effective for metal, painted concrete
• With a trigger-spray for application, the product
  works exceptionally well on surfaces like
  concrete and unpainted brick, especially if the
  brick wall is relatively new, smooth and less
  porous. However, it has a very strong smell. You
  may need to scrub the spray paint off using a
  stiff brush and water, rinse if the brick wall is
  more porous. You can avoid some of the brushing
  if you have a power washer. It may not be the
  best choice for painted surfaces as it can remove
  the surface paint.
• Lift Off 3
• Most effective for unpainted plastic, unpainted
  and painted metal
• Least effective for painted concrete
• The product can be applied using a trigger-spray.
  While it performs fairly well on surfaces like
  unpainted plastic and metal, it is important to
  be careful while using this product on painted
  surfaces as it may easily remove the paint from
  the surface. It does not work as well on painted
  concrete and only dulls the graffiti instead of
  removing it. The product also claims it can
  remove graffiti done on fabric.

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Tools and techniques for removing graffiti

• Tools
• Aerosol remover
• Clean rags
• Economical rollers, brushes, and paint
• Scraper
• Dust mask
• Safety specs
• Kitchen cleaner
• Water in a spray bottle
• Abrasive blasting for rough surfaces
• More commonly referred to as sandblasting, this
  involves forcing a high-pressure stream of coarse
  particles against the surface to remove graffiti.
  
• Paint over it
• It is best to repaint over graffiti if the
  surface is painted to remove it completely. Using
  specific chemicals or graffiti removal solvents
  to fade out the graffiti as much as possible and
  painting over it is the easiest way to fully get
  rid of it.

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Tools and techniques for removing graffiti

• Elbow Grease and the Wire Brush
• A low-cost wire brush is perfect for getting rid
  of paint from various surfaces. While the surface
  may end up looking like it was scrubbed with a
  wire brush, the graffiti will considerably fade.
  It is better to use the wire brush on surfaces
  that will weather back to their original texture
  or colour over time such as street curbs,
  telephone poles, certain rough metals, decorative
  rocks, smooth stone surfaces, concrete and wood
  fences.
• Solvents
• While painting over the graffiti on a painted
  surface is a good idea, it would be smart to have
  a solvent that can remove graffiti for the quick
  response as fresh graffiti is generally easier to
  get rid of than older graffiti. There are
  numerous products for graffiti removal available
  in the market. It can be helpful to research them
  and familiarize yourself with them. Learn about
  how to safely handle and use them. Knowing about
  the product you are handling is essential to make
  sure you are able to take care of an accidental
  injury caused by the product.
• Anti-Graffiti Coating
• It is a covering that prevents the bonding of
  graffiti paint to surfaces. Applying a protective
  layer is a smart move for removing graffiti,
  particularly if your house is a common victim of
  graffiti.

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How do you remove graffiti from brick?

• Start with pouring the Graffiti Remover into a
  spray bottle. Make sure that the spray bottle is
  perfectly clean so that you do not accidentally
  mix the remover with chemicals.
• Carefully spray the remover over the graffiti.
• Leave the remover for around 20 minutes for
  maximum effect when the temperature is warm.
  Leave the remover for a longer period of time
  when the weather is cold.
• Wash the area using pressure wash at around
  1500-2000 PSI. For even better results, hot water
  is ideal.
• Repeat the process if required.

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How do you remove graffiti from metal?

• Graffiti can be erased from metal objects by the
  use of thinning solvents such as chemical paint
  removers, alcohol spirits, and kerosene oil or
  handy wipes. The method is simple as to apply the
  solvents or thinner by spraying directly on the
  graffiti and covering areas, a steel wool, or any
  other hard surface cloth or material can be used
  to rub the graffiti off the metal.
• A strong solvent and a rigid continuous rub of
  steel wood on the metal leads the graffiti to
  dissolve and melt off the metal surface. This
  method can be repeated to make sure the metal is
  free of the graffiti till the nuisance is
  completely erased from everywhere it exists.

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Tips for Removing Graffiti From Wood, Plastic

• Graffiti found on wood surfaces
• Mineral spirits often get the job done
  efficiently but that is only the case if the wood
  is not in a weathered condition or it is sealed
  with a sealer, stain or any other material. In
  case the wood is weathered, this technique is not
  ideal. This is because the weathered wood will
  absorb all the chemicals, driving the applied
  paint down
• Use a power washer with the pressure of around
  3000 PSI but be very cautious that you do not
  drive the paint further into the wood
• Painting over the graffiti is the best solution
  when nothing works out
• Graffiti found on Plastic Surfaces
• Wipe the graffiti with penetrating oil but make
  sure that it is mild. Refrain from using paint
  thinners because they can make the plastic soft.
  Alongside, they can cause permanent tackiness of
  clouding of the surface, so be very careful while
  using it
• Use bronze wool or ultra-fine steel to slightly
  rub the paint
• In case these methods do not work, repaint the
  graffiti

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The End

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