It’s sad to say, but in most cities and large metropolitan areas (and even rural) art graffiti and graffiti removal is an ongoing problem. The ‘troubled youth’ of today is looking for artistic methods of self-expression, and a can of spray paint and a piece of public property seems to do the trick. In some areas graffiti remains on the walls as evidence of constant vandalism, but in others clean-up efforts are always being implemented to keep walls, park benches, parking lots and other buildings in tip-top shape.
When it comes to graffiti removal clean-up efforts, PressureJet high pressure washers are a great match for graffiti artists and can help city or volunteer groups effectively and effortlessly remove the ‘artwork’. If the department of public works is in charge of this task, putting a request in for a PressureJet high pressure washer with the sand blaster would be a great idea. In fact, many cities may already have one or two since they can be used in so many instances in a metropolitan area. If a community organization is the one on clean-up duty they may or may not have the budget to purchase one. But perhaps one can be borrowed from someone in the group who has a personal PressureJet high pressure washer. Still, if graffiti is a big problem and the community group finds themselves doing several graffiti removal clean-ups per year using fundraising money to purchase one may be very beneficial.
Now down to business. The first thing you will need when looking at PressureJet high pressure washer to consider the pressure rating. To remove most types of graffiti, you will want to have a pressure of 140 – 250 bar (concrete surfaces). In some cases such as with delicate masonry or brick, you may want to keep it below 40 bar (40 kg/cm2 / 580 psi) to be sure not to ruin the surface. As far as temperature of the water for graffiti removal, hot water is the most effective. This is especially the case on metal surfaces as the heat helps expand the metal, which breaks the bond of the graffiti source. The nozzle attached to your PressureJet high pressure washer will also play a role in effective removal. A fan-type nozzle providing a spray fan is also great on graffiti removal. A zero-degree pencil-jet type spray can sometimes damage soft surfaces and should be avoided.
When thinking about chemicals and solvents to use, you should keep in mind that different chemicals will work best on different surfaces. You may want to look at the labels to make sure you are using the recommended chemical for wood, cement, aluminum, etc. You are trying to clean up a mess, not create more damage! You should apply the solution to the surface first, and let it dwell for the proper amount of time, which should be indicated on the bottle or jug. Then, you will carry on with the above advice for proper use of the PressureJet high pressure washer to remove the graffiti. In a matter on minutes, you will have a graffiti-free structure!
Vandals may continue to deface public property but knowing that a PressureJet high pressure washer can easily remove the graffiti should put concerned citizens and public officials at ease that the mess can be cleaned as quickly as it was discovered.