Summary

– Step 1: Effective Graffiti Removal Products

– Step 2: Requesting Graffiti Removal

– Step 3: Preventative Solutions

If you have graffiti on your home, you can either remove it yourself or call a professional to remove it.

Please find out how and what to do in our tip.

1. Products that work against graffiti

Large surface detergents

Has your facade fallen victim to vandalism? Do-it-yourself stores offer simple products to individuals that are less dangerous to handle than products intended for professionals:

– These biodegradable and silicone-free detergents ensure easy cleaning in case of vandalism.

– They have chemical compounds and surface-active properties inserted between water and other water-soluble substances such as acrylic or glycerol found in spray paint.

Good to know: stain removers based on methylene chloride or dichloromethane are also effective.

Pure bleach against graffiti

To remove a trace of graffiti on stone:

– wipe the stain with a damp cloth;

– dab the stain with a bit of bleach on a cloth.

If the stain persists:

– apply modelling plaster to the stained area;

– Drill a hole in the center;

– dry;

– Put bleach in the hole;

– leave for a few moments;

– rub with an abrasive sponge.

If this fails, repeat the operation.

Good to know: modelling plaster can be found in DIY stores.

On marble, sandstone or granite:

– Apply a water or oil repellent solution available in DIY stores.

– Follow the instructions carefully before use.

2. Request for intervention to remove graffiti

Intervention by the town hall

You can ask your local council to intervene with the appropriate equipment and products. This intervention remains free of charge, but it can be paid for under certain conditions:

– if the stained support:

◦ is made of a particular material;

◦ proves to be dilapidated;

– if the stained facade is difficult to access for personnel or their equipment.

Please note: this request must be supplemented by a complaint to the police department.

Intervention by a professional

Some companies specialize in post-disaster cleaning.

With ice blasting and baking soda, they can effectively clean graffiti.

Good to know: the price of an intervention by the town hall or a professional varies according to the estimate and the work to be done.

3. Preventive solutions

To prevent future graffiti from soaking into your walls, there are 3 solutions available to you:

1. Put a protective plastic film on your facades: the film-forming product leaves, once dry, a protective film on the surface, so the pollutant cannot adhere to the facade and is easily removed with water.

2. Apply protective varnish.

3. Apply anti-tag paint.

Good to know: if you want to protect your glass facades, you can buy a roll of adhesive protective film. If graffiti is made on your window, you will only have to remove the film to stick another one.

Tips for anti-graffiti treatment

The anti-graffiti treatment is done as a finishing touch to the restoration, as is the exterior insulation.

In urban areas and more rarely in rural areas, it is not uncommon to see the damage caused by vandalism on facades. The tags and wild postings are part of these degradations.

The quicker the work is done, the less likely you will see other additions to your facade.

Good to know: this is the “broken window” theory: if one window stays broken, other windows will be broken nearby. The feeling of neglect leads to further carelessness, whereas the feeling that a place is maintained leads to respect.

If the intervention of a professional is possible, even recommended, you can clean and treat your facade yourself.

Nevertheless, a professional knows the materials, the products and their uses to treat graffiti, do not hesitate to take advice from these specialists.

The treatments apply to external insulation systems and are done as a finishing touch to the rendering.

The different criteria of an anti-graffiti preventive treatment

Anti-graffiti treatments must meet specific criteria:

no or little change in the appearance of the substrate;
facilitate the removal of graffiti with simple products and without damaging the materials.

Depending on the material’s porosity, the graffiti degrades the support more or less.

Impact of graffiti on the substrate

Porous materials	Non-porous materials
Bricks Stones Coatings…	Smooth surfaces such as glazing.
The graffiti forms a film and penetrates the material’s surface: challenging to remove without more or less aggressive methods.	The graffiti forms a film that remains on the surface: relatively easy to remove

Different actions of anti-graffiti products

3 common steps of anti-graffiti products:

pore size;
filmogenic;
oleophobic.

Products can have one, two or three actions.

	Mouths Pores	Filmogenic	Oleophobic
Definition	Pore-filling action on the surface of the material: smoothes and waterproofs.	Film-forming action on the surface: leaves a protective film on the surface.	Oleophobic surface action: does not allow oils to penetrate.
Change in the appearance of the substrate	Yes, slightly	Yes	No
Waterproof	Yes	Yes	Yes

Types of preventive anti-graffiti treatments

We find on the market 2 types of preventive anti-graffiti products:

interim treatments;
permanent treatments.

	Temporary treatment	Permanent treatment
Definition	Treatment that partially or disappears when the graffiti is cleaned.	Treatment that remains in place after the graffiti is removed.
Application	Usually in one layer. Easy to apply.	Usually in several layers. More complex application.
Action	Allows for easy graffiti removal.	Allows cleaning graffiti very easily.
Recommendations	Cleaning can be done with hot water and solvents. Be careful with highly stressed surfaces, treatment to be renewed.	Cleaning is done with the solvent recommended by the treatment manufacturer. Not recommended on listed buildings. Can fix some stains.
Surface appearance	Unmodified.	Modified.

Preparation of the surface before applying the anti-graffiti treatment

Here are the steps to prepare your surface before applying the anti-graffiti treatment:

All glass surfaces must be protected.
Substrate temperature must not be below 5°C.
Traces of residues of paint must be removed.
The support must be sound, clean and free of grease.
There should be no traces of efflorescence.
The substrate must be sufficiently porous.
The support must have received a fungicide treatment.
Joints and cracks must be treated before application.

Application of the treatment

This type of treatment is applied with a brush or roller. It can also be applied by spraying. Read and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Apply the product to saturation.
After application of the treatment on low porous surfaces, wipe off the excess product with a cloth before drying.
The products in the aqueous phase (water thinner) can be applied on a dry or wet surface. It is recommended to use them in two to three coats “wet on wet”, i.e. do not wait for complete drying between two coats.

Keeping office spaces clean is a must. However, when you prioritize work above all, it means that you are letting office cleanliness take the backseat. So, to prevent this from happening, you need to consider hiring professional office cleaning services. Below are some signs that indicate when you need to take action.

1.Visible Dirt and Disarray

Take a quick walk around your office and pay attention to the floors, windows, countertops and other such visible places. Suppose you remove something from the top of a file cabinet and you get showered in dust. Or you see the bits of trash of yesterday are still on the floor.

The worst part is when you see a mouse or rat running around. You might think that one single mouse does not represent a harbinger of doom, but let me tell you that if you came across one, there is a possibility that there are more. And food scraps lying around – whether on desks, floors or even in garbage cans, will undoubtedly attract these sneaky critters.

And, let me add that if you can see the general dirtiness and rats in the office, so can everybody else (especially important clients). Hence, only Sheen Cleaning can save the day.

2.Employees Can Get Sick

Would you be surprised if I tell you that keyboards host more germs than a toilet seat? In addition, many studies indicated that computer mice and keyboards are the prime real estate for germs.

Now, if you noticed that your employees are often taking sick leaves and that too at an increasing rate, this might indicate that the germs and bacteria have been spreading around the office.

Furthermore, with the current Covid-19 outbreak, things have become more serious and cleanliness has become a must, especially in work environments, where there are hundreds of opportunities for viruses and bacteria to spread from door handles to copy machines and toilets.

Hence, if you want to provide your workers with a clean and safe working environment, you will need to hire professionals.

3.A Fall In Productivity

Research has proved that there is a direct correlation between a clean working environment and productivity level. For example, a study showed how a germy doorknob could infect half of an office within hours and affect workers’ overall productivity.

It is evident that a cluttered and unclean desk will have negative impacts on a worker’s productivity. Dirty office spaces can not only cause workplace hazards but can also distract workers and this distraction leads to a fall in productivity. Besides, an unclean work environment can trigger allergies and increase the possibilities of illness for employees.

Moreover, suppose you think of solving the problem by getting the workers to keep the office clean and manage the clutter. In that case, you will be taking them away from their main tasks and responsibilities, which could further damage your business.

As a responsible business owner, the only way to increase productivity and keep your office space tidy and spotless is choosing professional office cleaners.

4.Hesitation to Have Visitors

Whether it is a relative checking in on you at work, a courier dropping off a vital parcel or an important business client, it is obvious that you want your visitors to be impressed with your office.

Always remember that a work environment is not only the place where you work but also a reflection of your product or service and hence your first line of defense should be a clean, tidy and professional office. In this way, you will be able to build a strong and trustworthy reputation with others to work with your business.

However, why do you feel uncomfortable when visitors suddenly stop by your workplace? Are you scared of what they might think if they see a dirty and unwelcoming place, with paperwork and dust lying everywhere? Or, are you scared that Jerry might pop his head out in front of your visitors?

So, my dear friends, if you don’t want this ugly nightmare, I suggest you take the help of cleaning experts.

5.Busy Season

When a business is approaching a busy period, it means that you have to prepare accordingly. What I mean here is that more business means more work and more work means more filth. While everyone is busy with the business side of things, you will need to seek out a cleaning company.

If you think it’s high time to invest in a professional office cleaning service, then check out Sheen Cleaning and see what they can do for your workplace.

Category Archives: Cleaning

Category: Cleaning

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