You’ve Removed The Graffiti But A Remains By: Tim Winesburg Tim Winesburg is the presi-dent of MULTI-SEAL Corporation, a formulator and manufacturer of specialty cleaners and sealers for stone, masonry, ceramics and plas-tics since 1958. MULTI-SEAL offers the broadest line of anti-graffiti products under the GRAFFITI-GONE!, GRAFFITI-BLOCK! and GRAFFITI-MAGIC! brands. Tim can be reached at [email protected]. To learn more about the graffiti removal and graffiti prevention products MULTI-SEAL has to offer, visit www.multi-sealcorp.com. Shadow Residual graffiti can be menacing; donʼt let it get to you. T The most frustrating part of cleaning graffiti hap-pens when you labor over its removal, rinse the area and a shadow or ghost remains. Here are some suggestions to help you avoid frustration and achieve the clean, un-vandalized, graffiti-free surfaces you desire. If temperatures are near freezing, use a solvent-based remover. During the summer months, work in the morning or cool the wall with water. A water-based remover works better in high-temperature situations. Rough Surfaces Unsuccessful cleaning of rough surfaces is the biggest problem. The textures of brick, concrete and stone allow graffiti to sink down into the crevices or pores. Removers that do not have special penetrating agents or evaporate too quickly won’t get the job done. Use a soaking-type remover, thickened so it can be applied by a brush, a roller or a low-pres-sure sprayer, then let the product do the work. There should be no need for a high-pressure rinse, though low to medium pressure delivers results much faster than a hose. The pressure helps rinse paint pigments trapped deep in the crevices. The essential ingredient is dwell time — put the remover on and let it sit. If you use a remover that rinses even after it dries, you can come back for the rinse at your convenience — even the next day. Another issue is temperature — not of the air, but the temperature of the surface. The normal working range for removers is 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. On very cold surfaces, work in the afternoon and expect to use twice the typical dwell time. Plastic Surfaces Plastics are everywhere: Bathroom partitions, trashcans, banners, playground equipment, etc. Usually, common spray paint cleans off easily. If you are having trouble, the paint may be a ure-thane or an epoxy, such as appliance or engine for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Cleaning . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Graffiti . Image courtesy of MULTI-SEAL Corporation Using the proper formulations and removing graffiti as soon as it is noticed will minimize the possibility of permanent damage. 28 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • July 2010
CMM – Archives July 2010: 28
