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WEST VALLEY CITY -- In some cases, graffiti removal chemical kits can take down graffiti almost as quickly as taggers can put it up. Just apply the chemicals and wipe it all away.
West Valley City Community Preservation Department Director Layne Morris says, "They really work well, and it's not hard to use. We recommend people wear rubber gloves but the chemicals aren't unduly harsh."
Morris says the kits work a little better on hard surfaces like metal, plastic and vinyl.
"The brick, wood [and] those types of permeable surfaces where the paint is allowed to soak in are a little more of a challenge," he says.
The kits essentially strip away paint, so Morris has a recommendation for anyone who wants to try them on an old painted surface.
"We still recommend people give it a little dab in a spot you don't mind [trying it out first and] checking out and waiting, just to make sure that it's not going to take off additional paint," he explains.
Residents in West Valley City can get the kits free from the city. But anyone can buy them at hardware stores, and Morris says they don't cost much.
Morris says the fight against graffiti is a winnable one. People just need to take it down quickly and every time their property gets hit.
"The perpetrators of graffiti very quickly move on to an easier target when they find out that the graffiti that they placed on somebody's property doesn't stay there very long," he says.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
