Community Resources

Organizing a Graffiti Cleanup

Graffiti Removal

Schools, youth organizations, church groups, businesses, neighborhood associations and others in the community can participate in graffiti eradication. To organize a neighborhood graffiti cleanup, follow these general guidelines:

  1. Identify cleanup area/s
    • Identify location/s that require graffiti abatement and determine the removal method. Paint and solvent, or other cleaning solution, may be necessary to remove graffiti (including markers) from surfaces such as utility boxes, signs, etc.
    • Estimate the amount of manpower and the materials necessary to remove or paint over graffiti. Learn more about graffiti removal.
    • Take a picture of the graffiti before it is removed. Photographs will assist law enforcement in their investigation. Do not use a community cleanup to remove gang graffiti.
    • Obtain written authorization from property owners prior to the cleanup. Contact information for owners of vacated properties can often be obtained through a local real estate agent or public records. Graffiti cleanup on public property is typically the responsibility of the city.
  2. Organize an event
    • Select a date. Saturday mornings are often a good time.
    • Confirm the support of core organizers and assign tasks.
    • Determine how and when materials and equipment will arrive. Plan for environmentally-sound disposal and storage of materials for before and after the cleanup.
    • Identify sources for paint. The owner of the property may supply necessary removal products, or ask local paint suppliers or other businesses to donate paint and other equipment.
    • Identify volunteers that can provide pick-up trucks/vans to help transport equipment and volunteers. These vehicles can also be used for trash collection at the end of the event.
    • Enlist volunteers specifically for cleanup after the event. To save time and conserve water, submerge wet rollers in a few inches of paint within a five-gallon, sealed bucket. When it's time to paint again, remove the lid, add a paint screen, and it?s ready.
    • Determine how volunteers will be assigned and the sequencing of tasks.
    • Although not necessary, coffee, juice, donuts, music or lunch can be welcome additions to a cleanup and are likely to improve attendance. Keep food away from paint, solvents, and other cleanup materials. If you plan to serve lunch, do it following completion of cleanup activities.
  3. Recruit Volunteers
    • Don't overlook young people. Youth can make a powerful statement against graffiti and set an example for others who may be involved in graffiti vandalism. Senior citizens comprise another wonderful volunteer base.
    • An invitation (such as a flyer) is usually not enough to secure sufficient volunteers for an event. Phone calls, personal follow-ups, and neighborhood recruitment should be used when possible.
  4. Get the Word Out
    • Notify and involve the local police units. Consider having an officer on-site at your event.
    • Contact residents in the immediate area and the adjacent 1-3 block radius.
    • Use flyers, posters and word of mouth to advertise the cleanup. Make sure ALL posters and flyers are removed immediately after the event!
    • Contact the local media (newspapers, radio stations, and local TV news shows).
    • Reach out to local church, school, civic, and businesses groups.
    • Do not include any graffiti in outreach materials. Also ask media to refrain from including graffiti in any media coverage.
  5. Graffiti Removal Clean-up Day
    • Designate a central location where volunteers can pick up supplies, receive assignments and socialize during breaks and at completion. When staging an area, consider accessibility, toilet and washing facilities, and parking (encourage carpooling).
    • Have a sign-in sheet requesting name, phone, and address. Also, have volunteers sign a waiver. See a volunteer registration form and waiver.
    • Divide site location into workable areas.
    • Select team captains to be responsible for all painting equipment and materials. Provide each team captain with a list of assigned site locations and paint color. If volunteers bring their own equipment, ask that they put some identifying mark on their supplies.
    • Ensure all volunteers adhere to safety precautions for using graffiti removal materials. Take a look at some safety guidelines.
    • Train all cleanup volunteers to follow painting guidelines and instructions. When painting over graffiti:
      • Paint a straight and even border to delineate painted area; avoid creating a new 'canvas' for graffiti writers.
      • Try to color-match paint to surface whenever possible.
      • Save a few gallons of paint for necessary touch-ups.
      • Take precautions against drips and spills.
      • Avoid painting a large surface area more than five times. A build up of paint prevents the surface from breathing and can cause long-term deterioration to the structure.
      • Avoid painting unpainted masonry surfaces (e.g., brick, stucco, marble); these should be power-washed or chemically treated.

      Learn more about graffiti removal.

Safety Guidelines

Follow health and safety regulations in all graffiti-removal and graffiti-protection work. Primary emphasis should be on the handling and storage of products and their residue, occupational hygiene, and personal safety.

Handling and storage of chemical agents

Solvent-based graffiti removers have de-fatting properties that are liable to cause dermatitis. Skin protection is always needed. Adhere to these guidelines to limit skin exposure:

Occupational hygiene

There are three routes by which substances can be absorbed into the body. They may be ingested through the mouth, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. To reduce the risk of ingestion:

Personal safety

Safety of the workers should be of prime importance. Use common sense and consider these tips: