Graffiti Shadow Remover

Overview

Graffiti Stain Remover, also called Graffiti Shadow Remover, clears the shadows and ghosting that graffiti often leaves on porous masonry once the main removal is done. Graffiti ghosting is most common on highly porous surfaces such as sandstone.

It combines strong paint-stripping and graffiti removal chemicals with lightening and bleaching agents. It penetrates deep, lifts and bleaches inks and dyes, and brightens the stained surface to leave walls professionally clean. If shadows remain after a standard clean, use this graffiti shadow remover as your second stage.

It suits graffiti removal contractors, councils and facilities teams restoring brick, stone and concrete.

Why choose it

• Removes deep shadows: erases ghosting left in the pores after first-stage removal.
• Lifts and bleaches: targets inks, dyes and aged spray paint.
• Lightly gelled: made for vertical walls, with longer contact time.
• Low odour and non-flammable.
• Works on multiple layers: also acts as a paint stripper on multi-layer build-ups.
• Indoors or outdoors: suitable for internal and external masonry, with good ventilation.

Where to use it

Use it on porous mineral masonry: brick, stone, concrete and other masonry surfaces. Typical jobs include residual shadows after graffiti removal, multi-layer tags, pieces and murals on porous walls, and stripping older paint layers and coatings from masonry walls.

Do not apply it to painted surfaces you want to keep, zinc (galvanised metal), aluminium or glass, as it will damage them. Protect any of these nearby before you start. For fresh graffiti, start with a standard graffiti remover.

How to use it

1. Prepare: put on your PPE and protect nearby glass, aluminium, galvanised metal and painted surfaces. Test a small area first.
2. Apply generously with a brick cleaning brush or alkali-resistant brush, working it well into the stained area.
3. Keep it wet: keep agitating and add more product if needed. Do not let it dry. Start with a dwell of around 5–10 minutes on your test area, and extend only as needed for heavy residues.
4. Rinse thoroughly: good rinsing is essential. Ideally use a high-pressure, low-volume washer at 69 bar (1,000 psi) and 18–25 litres per minute, with a 15–45° fan tip. Water up to 70°C may help but is not essential. Without high pressure, scrub while hosing at low pressure.
5. Repeat on heavy residues.

To use it as a paint stripper, allow a longer contact time to soften multiple layers, then scrape or wipe off and rinse.

Choosing a size

Graffiti Stain Remover comes in a 5 litre container, the contractor standard. Use it as a targeted second stage on the areas where shadows remain.

Good to know

• It is corrosive. The Safety Data Sheet classes it as causing severe skin burns and eye damage, and harmful if swallowed.
• PPE: alkali-resistant gloves, safety glasses and protective clothing. Keep an eye bath to hand.
• Ventilation: make sure the area is well ventilated. Do not breathe vapours, and avoid creating mists.
• Run-off: do not let it discharge into drains or rivers. Contain spills with bunding and absorb them with dry earth or sand.
• Storage: keep the container tightly closed in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from heat, strong acids and oxidising agents.
• Always patch-test on the actual surface before full use.

For the first-stage clean, use Graffiti Remover, or Strong Graffiti Remover for stubborn paint on masonry. Once the wall is clean, consider protecting it with Anti-Graffiti Coating.

Compare all our graffiti removers and removal products.