How to Remove Personalized Paint From Walls

Graffiti painted on a wall in several layers.

Personal paint is one way of describing graffiti. Sometimes children or persons affiliated with street gangs will roam the neighborhood after dark and spray walls, fences, masonry, metal, buildings, signs or anything available with cans of spray paint. Sometimes they spray personal art, sometimes they mark territory. Removing graffiti may be required of the individual homeowner by their local police regulations so it is a good idea to know how to cover the paint quickly and without doing further damage to your property.

Instructions

1. Apply graffiti remover with a scrub brush on solid surfaces. Allow the chemicals to activate f15 to 20 minutes and then use a power washer to scrub off both the chemicals and the graffiti. Note: the power washer may damage older wood fences, old brick or mortar or remove the paint on painted homes. This may cause additional problems.

2. Identify the surface that has been painted on and what finish was on that surface. Identify the type of material used to personalize the surface. Paints from cans will respond differently from markers etc. Discuss the different solvent options with your paint dealer to make the selection most likely to work for your situation.

3. Test solvents such as acetone or lacquer thinner on a small, discrete area first. Some solvents will dissolve painted surfaces. Acetone will melt plastic vinyls. Naphtha is a petroleum based solvent that is similar to mineral spirits but more flammable. It will also work faster than mineral spirits. Methylene chloride is often sold as a graffiti remover, but it can also soften or melt plastics. Turpentine is a wood based solvent and often works well to remove spray paint. Some people are allergic to turpentine.

4. Do not apply solvents with nylon bristle brushes as the solvents may react to the nylon and melt portions of the brush. Use hand and eye protection when using the solvents and never discard any residue in your local drains. Solvents are considered hazardous materials and must be discarded at your local disposal company in a safe way.

5. Paint over surfaces that cannot be cleaned. Consider using a paint with a stronger (harder) finish or a sealer. Glossy enamel works well. You may need to add stain inhibitors to your paint if you are painting over markers. By closing the pores of mortar (brick or concrete block) any future graffiti will be easier to remove. It is important to attack the graffiti quickly. Many can be removed within 24 hours by simply wiping them off with a light solvent. When painting, try to cover a large section to deter future graffiti. Purchase extra paint of the same color and type, along with disposable foam brushes for quick and easy touch ups.

Tips & Warnings

• There are a wide variety of solvents designed to fight graffiti. They come as gels, creams or liquids. Chemical solvents that tend to work the best will usually include chlorinated hydrocarbons, diglycol or monoglycol ethers or glycol acetates. Most of these chemicals are dangerous, toxic and flammable and should be stored in a protected cabinet away from children.

References

• Pressure Washers Direct: Graffiti Removal
• City Minneapolis Police: Removing Graffiti
• City Minneapolis Police: Removing Graffiti Techniques