Zion National Park is one of Utah’s most-visited national parks.  It is magnificent in its natural beauty and is a source of pride for all Americans.

Despite this, a graffiti tagger has defaced a rock face with spray paint.  This has resulted in outrage and disgust.

National Park officials have had to remind visitors to this US National Park that graffiti tags (in this case a pair of triangles) is NOT art.  It is NOT artistic expression.  It is ONLY vandalism.

"As important as artistic expression is, we do not want to deface the natural resources of our beautiful public lands,” the post reads on the Zion National Park Website. “No matter how small or superficially drawn, graffiti in the park is vandalism. Humans have been leaving their marks on rock walls for thousands of years in this region. But these days, writing on the walls isn’t necessary, and in a national park, it’s illegal.”

The punishment for vandalism includes possible jail time and potentially thousands of dollars in fines.

What is the difference between street art and graffiti tagging?  Everything.  

How to Remove Graffiti Spray Paint from Stone, Limestone, Rock, and Boulders.​

3 Simple Steps to Remove Graffiti from Stone, Limestone, Rock and Boulders.
​
Step 1: Brush Clean City Pro GREEN Label Graffiti Remover onto graffiti tag.  In closed and sensitive environments such as Ape Cave, the best practice to to "paint" the graffiti remover onto the graffiti remover using a thick deck brush.  This focuses the graffiti remover precisely onto the graffiti tag and avoids spraying product which will result in small airborne droplets of graffiti remover solvent.

Note:  If water source is not available for pressure washer and rinsing, such as cleaning graffiti from National Park, Municipal Park or Forest Preserve,  following dwell time, scrub using stiff nylon or brass brush taking care not to scratch surface.  Remove as much product and paint pigment using dry absorbent rags or towels.  Spray with water from hand held trigger sprayer and dry using dry absorbent rags or towels 

Graffiti is a problem wherever it appears, but it is particularly offensive and infuriating when graffiti taggers vandalize National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments, and other important protected locations.  Graffiti has emerged as a significant challenge and growing problem at Ape Cave at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.  Ape Cave is the third third-longest lava tube in North America and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Washington State. 

​Yet, the U.S. Forest Service officials have not been able to remove graffiti tagging, in some cases for over two years, due to the nasty chemicals found in most graffiti removers and their reluctance to introduce these chemicals into Ape Cave's sensitive micro-environment.  Additionally, a super low VOC product, Clean City Pro evaporates very slowly allowing the product to be removed from the cave with minimal impact on the micro-environment.

For sensitive environments found in National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments, the best graffiti remover choice is Clean City Pro Green Label Graffiti Remover.

PRODUCT BENEFITS 

• High-Performance
• Highly-Effective
• Spray and Wipe or Spray and Pressure Wash
• Safe for User 
• Safe for Pets
• Safe for Environment
• ​Scientifically-Formulated 
• Non-Hazardous Shipping 

​ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

• "Green" Graffiti Remover
• Super Low VOC
• Low Odor
• Non-Toxic
• Non-Hazardous Shipping
• Soy/Bio-Based
• No Prop 65 Chemicals
• Readily Biodegradable
• Non-Corrosive
  
• Non-Flammable
• Non-Aerosol

How to Remove Graffiti Spray Paint from Stone, Limestone, Rock, and Boulders.​

3 Simple Steps to Remove Graffiti from Stone, Limestone, Rock and Boulders.
​
Step 1: Brush Clean City Pro GREEN Label Graffiti Remover onto graffiti tag.  In closed and sensitive environments such as Ape Cave, the best practice to to "paint" the graffiti remover onto the graffiti remover using a thick deck brush.  This focuses the graffiti remover precisely onto the graffiti tag and avoids spraying product which will result in small airborne droplets of graffiti remover solvent.

Note:  If water source is not available for pressure washer and rinsing, such as cleaning graffiti from National Park, Municipal Park or Forest Preserve,  following dwell time, scrub using stiff nylon or brass brush taking care not to scratch surface.  Remove as much product and paint pigment using dry absorbent rags or towels.  Spray with water from hand held trigger sprayer and dry using dry absorbent rags or towels

APPLICATION BEST PRACTICES FOR REMOVING GRAFFITI using Clean City Pro Medium Duty Green Label Graffiti Remover.
1.  Always test in inconspicuous area before use.
2.  Use chemical resistant gloves and ventless goggles.
3.  Brush Clean City Pro Green Label graffiti remover onto affected area.  (Ready-to-use. No dilution necessary)
4.  Prevent drips using non-scratch scouring pad, microfiber, cotton rag or soft paper towel. 
5.  Allow moderate dwell time (from 15 to 3o min).  Note warmer ambient temperature and scrubbing increase speed of graffiti removal.
6.  As soon as graffiti tag bond with substrate "breaks", lightly loosen paint with non-scratch scouring pad, microfiber, cotton rag or soft paper towel.  The quicker the process, the less likely there will be any paint loss from substrate.
7.  Wipe clean with dry rag or towel.
8.  Rinse with water or wipe with wet rag to remove any remaining graffiti residue. 

Local artists and students in Watsonville, California organized a community graffiti removal clean up day. The effort helped to remove extensive graffiti from the local park located close to the local school. By painting murals, the organizers hope to change the atmosphere in the park and discourage future graffiti attacks.  Graffiti was painted over metal fences, concrete and other surfaces. 

Mural painting is a excellent way to remove graffiti. But the effort must be ongoing. Graffiti taggers will soon return and vandalize again. The community must be prepared to quickly remove the new graffiti. The more quickly, the new graffiti is removed, the less likely the taggers are to return.  After a few cycles where the community can quickly remove the new graffiti, taggers are likely to move on to less aggressively protected sites.  

To remove new graffiti, fresh paint is always an option, especially if the spot has been painted before. For murals, a best practice is to apply an anti-graffiti coating, either sacrificial, semi-sacrificial, or a permanent nano anti-graffiti coating. This protects the murals against graffiti attack and makes future graffiti removal from their surface possible without damaging the original mural itself.  

For graffiti removal from murals protected by sacrificial, semi-sacrificial, or permanent nano anti-graffiti coatings, the best graffiti remover is Clean City Pro Red Label graffiti remover. Clean City Pro Red Label graffiti remover is a fast, safe, effective full strength graffiti remover. Clean City Pro Red Label graffiti remover is designed to remove graffiti tags from sacrificial, semi-sacrificial, or permanent nano anti-graffiti coatings. Clean City Pro Red Label graffiti remover is also excellent for removing graffiti from metal, concrete, brick, stone, sidewalks, painted surfaces, plastics, and much more.

For more information, check out our Best Practices in Graffiti Removal page, our Graffiti Removal Selection page or our Tips and Techniques for Graffiti Removal page.​