Graffiti on a wall may be a wonderful expression of art and culture, but not every business wants a giant mural next to its entryway. Sure, there are fantastic examples of spray-painted masterpieces like the Jersey City Mural Arts Program or the giant David Bowie creation on Jersey Ave, but that doesn’t work for a boutique retail space or local mom-and-pop restaurant.
The trouble is that not everyone with a spray can will abide by a business owner’s wishes. That is where pressure washing away graffiti can help. It’s best to hire a pro team like ours at Rinse Prince so you don’t cause additional damage, but here are some quick insights in case you’re fed up with street calligraphy on your walls.
Step 1: Choose Your Methods & Tools Wisely
An industrial pressure washer can damage the wall. You need to consider the space and material requirements ahead of time to avoid making the outline of the graffiti permanent. Ask yourself:
- What is the surface material (each one has varying tolerance levels)?
- What kind of spray paint or graffiti was used?
- How big is the size of the painting, and at what intensity (repeated tags are harder to remove)?
- Can I access where the graffiti is?
Some “taggers” love to put graffiti in hard-to-reach areas that may require a ladder or cherry picker. In most cases, you’ll want varying nozzles of 25 to 40 degrees for general washing and a graffiti removal deterrent to get the job done right.
Step 2: Practice Safety First
Removing graffiti can be dangerous. You will be working outside, likely in high-traffic areas, around other people. You want to make the process as safe as possible so you can get back to running your business.
Be sure to wear protective gear, such as gloves, goggles, and a mask. Some cleaners will release fumes, so you may want a rebreather. Try to tape off the area from nearby walkers and put up tarps, seal vents, and cover plants to prevent overspray or runoff from affecting your curb appeal.
Step 3: Begin the Cleaning Process
Now that you’re adequately prepared, it’s time to get into the cleaning graffiti process. Be sure to take your time, as this may take a while to completely come off the walls.
- Start with a pre-soak that loosens the paint and prevents it from pushing further into the wall’s pores.
- Apply a cleaning solution (like a graffiti remover) compatible with your wall material and let it sit for the recommended time.
- Soft wash your walls with care by starting at a lower PSI (around 1,200) and increasing only when needed.
- Stick to steady, overlapping strokes at a 45-degree angle and try to stay at least a foot away from the wall’s surface.
- When finished, rinse thoroughly and go over the area with clean water to ensure all the graffiti is lifted.
The last thing to do is apply a sealant. You want an anti-graffiti covering that helps you avoid future business pressure washing.
Step 4: Special Considerations
The challenging aspect of soft washing graffiti is it is not likely to be a one-time fix. You want to maintain a clean, safe, and attractive space so your customers will continue to return in the future.
While you’re facing down graffiti on your walls, be sure to pay close attention to environmental regulations. Any chemical runoff can lead to high fines and may be restricted in certain parts of New Jersey. You may want to talk with your local code enforcement office to be on the safe side.
Hiring professional services like our pressure washing team helps keep your commercial property clean and safe while you focus on more critical needs, such as customer service and inventory management. Best of all, we have the licensing and bureaucratic experience to navigate local regulations, so you can avoid compliance issues.
Get the Blank Canvas Your Business Needs
Whether or not you want a large mural on your business wall is entirely up to you. As a business owner, we understand the importance of a targeted curb appeal to your preferred audience. Our team at Rinse Prince is here to help you get the blank canvas you need.
We work with businesses of all sizes and scopes, offering precision soft washing services that keep pathways, walls, windows, gutters, driveways, parking lots, and more fresh and clean.
Give us a call today at (973) 814-2033 or get an online quote for any of our commercial pressure washing services. Together, we can help keep NJ clean and welcoming for any customer you wish to visit next.
