There can be nothing worse than waking up one morning and finding out that someone has vandalized your car. Graffiti is bad enough at the best of times, but when it’s on your car, it takes on a whole new level of offensive and dangerous proportions. Spray paint on your windshield or side windows will inevitably distract the driver, as well as the other cars on the road. Also, vandalizing windows can lead to decreased visibility, leading to potential accidents, endangering the driver and other people on the road. Thankfully, a power washer is not a needed solution, so read below on how to clean up your car quickly and safely.

EASY REMOVAL:

Luckily for the victims of such vandalism, spray paint isn’t designed to stick to glass so it is easy to remove without the need for surface cleaners. For people that prefer to do things themselves, there are several cheap and effective options available. One is to use a scraper or razor blade to scratch the paint off, but that technique does have its risks. One slip can result in a painful injury, so be careful or ask a person with experience to help you.

HOW TO:

Hold the blade or scraper at a 30-degree angle and gradually chip away at the paint, taking care not to damage the glass itself; scratches are much harder to remove than spray paint is. Once the bulk of the paint has been removed, wipe the surface down to remove any remaining flecks of paint, then take a piece of super-fine bronze wool, wet it, and use it to gently remove any remaining paint. Take particular care with this step, as it can cause a great deal of damage to the glass if done incorrectly.

WHEN TO CALL THE PROFESSIONALS:

If the paint is stubborn and can’t be removed by this method, then it’s time to call in the professionals. Don’t be tempted to try and use paint thinner or surface cleaner to treat graffiti anywhere on a car, since it may destroy the finish of the car’s paintwork. Commercial cleaning companies carry an assortment of special solutions designed to break down the chemical composition of the paint itself and to lift it off the surface without causing damage to the car.

OTHER TYPES OF VANDALISM:

Aside from spray paint, there are other materials that can be used to vandalize a car since spray cans are sometimes a controlled substance. As such, it makes it difficult for younger vandals to get hold of such items, so budding graffiti artists have been known to resort to more readily available tools, such as permanent markers or etching tools.

Permanent marker can be easily removed and the simplest way is to take a dry erase marker and scribble over the lines. Wipe the ink away with a paper towel or a cloth and it should come off without any effort. If the stain is persistent, try a bit of acetone-based nail polish remover. Alternately, it is possible to use an industrial lubricant like WD-40 for the same effect.

Unfortunately, etching is much more difficult to remove. It’s done with a sharp object, like a compass, a blade, or a glasscutter, leaving deep, semi-permanent scratches that are nearly impossible for an ordinary person to remove. If you find yourself the unfortunate victim of an etching vandal, contact the professionals as soon as possible for assistance.

Contact the Target Graffiti removal team today for information on maintaining your car after vandalism and other services including power washing and concrete cleaning!