Best practices for Graffiti Removal:
Professional Tips and Techniques for How to RemovE Graffiti From Any Surface
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Step-by-step instructions for How Best to remove Graffiti from Rough Surfaces
STEP-BY-STEP APPLICATION BEST PRACTICES for How to Remove Graffiti from Concrete, Brick or Stone using Clean City Pro Heavy Duty Blue Label Gel Graffiti Remover or Clean City Pro Heavy Duty Red Label Graffiti Remover.
- City Pro Heavy Duty Blue Label Gel Graffiti Remover or Clean City Pro Heavy Duty Red Label Graffiti Remover is the best graffiti remover for use on non-sensitive surfaces such as brick concrete, stone and other difficult surfaces. If using graffiti removal products on sensitive surfaces, always test first in a inconspicuous spot before use.
- Clean City Pro Graffiti Removal products are highly safe, non-toxic, pH neutral, biodegradable, bio-based, however the use of chemical resistant gloves and goggles is recommended as a best practice. (gloves and goggles are included in graffiti removal kit)
- Apply graffiti removal spray or wipe graffiti remover onto affected area. (Ready-to-use. No dilution necessary)
- Control drips using nylon or wire brush
- Allow dwell time from 5 to 20 minutes (longer in cold temps)
- Warmer temperatures, hot water, and agitation with wire brush increase effectiveness
- Rinse with pressure washer using even, slow passes. Use 15° fan tip or wider.
- Repeat if necessary and reapply graffiti cleaner.
Step-by-step instructions for How Best to remove Graffiti from Smooth Surfaces
- STEP-BY-STEP APPLICATION BEST PRACTICES for How to Remove Graffiti from smooth surfaces using Clean City Pro Heavy Duty Red Label Graffiti Remover or Clean City Pro Medium Duty Green Label Graffiti Remover.1. Clean City Pro Heavy Duty Red Label Graffiti Remover or Clean City Pro Medium Duty Green Label Graffiti Remover is the best graffiti remover for use on smooth surfaces such as metal, painted surfaces, stainless steel, glass, plastic playground equipment, garbage toters, and other smooth surfaces. If using graffiti removal products on sensitive surfaces, always test first in a inconspicuous spot before use.
- Clean City Pro Graffiti Removal products are highly safe, non-toxic, pH neutral, biodegradable, bio-based, however the use of chemical resistant gloves and goggles is recommended as a best practice. (gloves and goggles are included in graffiti removal kit)
- Apply graffiti removal spray or wipe graffiti remover onto affected area using a sponge. (Ready-to-use. No dilution necessary)
- Prevent drips using non-scratch scouring pad, microfiber rag, cotton rag, or paper towel.
- Allow dwell time (from 10 seconds to 3 min). Note: warmer ambient temperatures and scrubbing increase speed of graffiti removal.
- As soon as graffiti tag's bond to 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. Note: Let the graffiti cleaner do the work of softening the graffiti tag. Excess scrubbing can damage underlying surface.
- Wipe surface clean with dry rag or towel.
- Rinse with water or wipe with wet rag to remove any remaining graffiti residue. (Note: Warm water will improve the speed and effectiveness of the graffiti removal products)
- Repeat if necessary and reapply graffiti cleaner.
Necessary Tools for Graffiti REmoval from Rough surfaces
Tools for Graffiti Removal from Brick, Concrete and other Porous Surfaces
- Graffiti Remover Solvent: Heavy duty graffiti remover for brick and concrete (soy-based, pH Neutral, non-aerosol)
- Brush: Brass wire brush or stiff nylon grout brush (the harder the bristle, the more "bite" but the greater the risk of scratching the substrate.)
- Scouring Pad: (Scouring pads mounted on a handle work the best)
- Gloves: Chemical resistant (thicker gloves will prevent tears and allow for repeated use)
- Safety Goggles: Non-vented (protects the eyes, especially important scrubbing a surface or pressure washing)
- Pressure washer, garden hose or bucket of water to rinse.
- If using a pressure washer, always use a face shield and 25 degree green nozzle.
The four Essential Elements of Successful Graffiti Removal: Tools, Tips and Techniques for graffiti removal from Brick, Concrete and Porous Surfaces
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #1: Four Essential Elements of Graffiti Removal include Chemical Strength, Dwell Time, Abrasion, and Temperature. It's important to understand these four variables to maximize successful graffiti removal outcomes. These elements work together. If one is increased, the others can decrease. For example, the heat from a hot water pressure washer increases effectiveness so that you can achieve good results with a shorter dwell time, less abrasion and milder graffiti remover. If you are working without access to a pressure washer, increase dwell time and abrasion to increase graffiti removal effectiveness.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #2: Graffiti Remover Chemical Strength range from strong to mild. Its important to match strength to the surface you are attempting to clean. Heavy duty graffiti removers are designed for non-sensitive surfaces such as brick, concrete and stone. Medium duty graffiti removers are designed for surfaces such as plastics and painted surfaces. Light duty graffiti removers are designed for delicate surfaces such as murals and white boards.
You can think about graffiti removal strengths as cooking heat on a grill. Too high a heat and you will overcook you burgers. Too low a heat and it will take hours to cook through. Too strong a solvent can result in damage to the underlying substrate. Too mild a solvent will result in the removal being very slow or non-effective.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #3: Dwell Time plays a central role in graffiti removal. The longer the dwell time, the more effectively the graffiti removal solvent can soften and dissolve the graffiti tag paint. Different graffiti tags "break" at different times based on the type of paint that was used, the thickness of the tag, and the surface that was graffiti tagged. A graffiti removal gel is designed to cling to a vertical surface, reduce dripping, and provide a longer dwell time. In some cases, graffiti tags break quickly, within 30 seconds or a minute or two. In other cases, the tags can take 15 or 20 minutes or even longer. Warmer ambient temperatures, some abrasion during the dwell time, a application of additional graffiti remover during the dwell time can increase effectiveness and decrease the length of the dwell time.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #4: Abrasion typically plays a central role in graffiti removal. A scrub with a stiff brush during dwell time can increase effectiveness as it can help to move lose graffiti paint pigment aside to allow graffiti removal solvent to come into contact with the graffiti paint pigment underneath and soften its bond.
A pressure washer is an ideal tool as it provides both micro-abrasion and rinsing in one step. If a fan tip nozzle is used, damage to the substrate can be avoided. In some cases, graffiti removal techniques rely heavily on abrasion or scrubbing, such as sand blasting or soda blasting, essentially a gritty medium grinds away at the surface to remove the graffiti tag. In other cases, abrasion is not used at all preferring a chemical solvent and a long, typically overnight dwell time. Not surprisingly, the best solution is a combination.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #5: Temperature plays an important role in graffiti removal. The warmer it is, the faster the graffiti removal can happen. Molecules move quickly when its warm and slowly when its cold. In summer months, dwell times are noticeably faster than dwell times in winter months. In colder temperatures, the sunlight on surface can help. Also, in winter months, hot water in the pressure washer can make a significant improvement to effectiveness. A hot water pressure washer is an expensive piece of equipment, but consumer grade pressure washers can source hot waer by attaching to a utility sink with a threaded faucet or a hot water heater. Hot water is a must for washing laundry and your dishes, same principles apply to graffiti, especially when attempting cold weather graffiti removal. Clean City Pro Red, Clean City Pro Blue and Clean City Pro Green Label can be used in cold temperatures as they will not freeze. The can also be used in hot temperatures as they do not have a fast drying alcohol composition.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #2: Graffiti Remover Chemical Strength range from strong to mild. Its important to match strength to the surface you are attempting to clean. Heavy duty graffiti removers are designed for non-sensitive surfaces such as brick, concrete and stone. Medium duty graffiti removers are designed for surfaces such as plastics and painted surfaces. Light duty graffiti removers are designed for delicate surfaces such as murals and white boards.
You can think about graffiti removal strengths as cooking heat on a grill. Too high a heat and you will overcook you burgers. Too low a heat and it will take hours to cook through. Too strong a solvent can result in damage to the underlying substrate. Too mild a solvent will result in the removal being very slow or non-effective.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #3: Dwell Time plays a central role in graffiti removal. The longer the dwell time, the more effectively the graffiti removal solvent can soften and dissolve the graffiti tag paint. Different graffiti tags "break" at different times based on the type of paint that was used, the thickness of the tag, and the surface that was graffiti tagged. A graffiti removal gel is designed to cling to a vertical surface, reduce dripping, and provide a longer dwell time. In some cases, graffiti tags break quickly, within 30 seconds or a minute or two. In other cases, the tags can take 15 or 20 minutes or even longer. Warmer ambient temperatures, some abrasion during the dwell time, a application of additional graffiti remover during the dwell time can increase effectiveness and decrease the length of the dwell time.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #4: Abrasion typically plays a central role in graffiti removal. A scrub with a stiff brush during dwell time can increase effectiveness as it can help to move lose graffiti paint pigment aside to allow graffiti removal solvent to come into contact with the graffiti paint pigment underneath and soften its bond.
A pressure washer is an ideal tool as it provides both micro-abrasion and rinsing in one step. If a fan tip nozzle is used, damage to the substrate can be avoided. In some cases, graffiti removal techniques rely heavily on abrasion or scrubbing, such as sand blasting or soda blasting, essentially a gritty medium grinds away at the surface to remove the graffiti tag. In other cases, abrasion is not used at all preferring a chemical solvent and a long, typically overnight dwell time. Not surprisingly, the best solution is a combination.
Graffiti Removal Tool Tip #5: Temperature plays an important role in graffiti removal. The warmer it is, the faster the graffiti removal can happen. Molecules move quickly when its warm and slowly when its cold. In summer months, dwell times are noticeably faster than dwell times in winter months. In colder temperatures, the sunlight on surface can help. Also, in winter months, hot water in the pressure washer can make a significant improvement to effectiveness. A hot water pressure washer is an expensive piece of equipment, but consumer grade pressure washers can source hot waer by attaching to a utility sink with a threaded faucet or a hot water heater. Hot water is a must for washing laundry and your dishes, same principles apply to graffiti, especially when attempting cold weather graffiti removal. Clean City Pro Red, Clean City Pro Blue and Clean City Pro Green Label can be used in cold temperatures as they will not freeze. The can also be used in hot temperatures as they do not have a fast drying alcohol composition.
The Fast, Safe, Easy way to Remove Graffiti From Newspaper Box: 15 Second Clean with Clean City Pro Green Label Graffiti Remover
Clean City Pro Green Label Graffiti Removal from Metal Newspaper Box Before and After Photos. (Approximately 15 seconds)
