How To Get Spray Paint off Walls

Use a power washer to remove new graffiti. If spray paint has not had a chance to dry and set completely, it may be removable with nothing more than pressurized water. Use a low-pressure setting first and gauge your progress. Increase the power setting as needed, until most or all of the spray paint has been removed. You can add ammonia to the water as a cleaning solution.

Apply an organic spray-paint remover to the wall surface according to the manufacturer's instructions. Organic paint removers have no negative environmental impact and leave no visible traces on the affected surface. Nevertheless, you need to handle these compounds with care to prevent harmful health effects. Organic paint removers also can cause paint stains on other parts of the wall as the cleaner drips away.

Use a chemical-based paint or graffiti remover. Apply the graffiti remover to the affected part of the wall with a wire brush. Use your brush to scrub the surface so the remover works its way into the paint and the wall beneath. Allow the remover to dissolve the paint for up to 15 minutes. Use a garden hose to spray a concentrated stream of water onto the wall to wash all of the remover away. Inspect the wall, and repeat the process if necessary.

Use a power sander or grinder to wear away any parts of the wall where you could not remove the spray paint. Sanding and grinding removes the toughest of stains, and should be used only as a last resort. It causes damage to the wall and will almost certainly leave behind evidence of its application.

Hire a professional graffiti removal company to do the work if you are unable to get the graffiti off yourself and are willing to spend the money. Professionals use blends of paint remover and absorbent materials called poultices, which they spray onto the wall to draw the paint to the surface, where it is whisked away by the solution. Professional graffiti removers may also use sandblasting techniques to get rid of difficult paint stains.