Removing Restroom Graffiti

A common problem in just about any restroom, at any time of year, is graffiti. Partitions and stall doors are frequent targets, but walls and other fixtures also end up with their share of ink.

The first thing a janitor should do in order to clean up graffiti is to assess the surface itself. It is generally easier to remove graffiti from nonporous surfaces, especially glossy painted partitions.

If it’s a porous material, paint or ink might have soaked in. Try to then figure out what type of product was used to vandalize the surface, and what can be used to dissolve it.

General-purpose cleaners and cloths are some common tools that help remove restroom graffiti. Most ink comes off pretty easily, but for etched-in graffiti, there’s not much a cleaning crew can do short of painting or having the facility manager replace the fixture.