Are you in the grip of graffiti?
December 1st 2009 James Taylor, trade marketing manager
for Lotus Professional, examines the real
cost of graffiti to businesses
Keep Britain Tidy estimates that English councils spend £27
million a year on graffiti removal, with almost 90% of
authorities stating that it is a problem in their area. It is often
both difficult and costly to clean; its removal can be very labour
intensive and in extreme cases requires specialist machinery and
materials to ensure that an area is completely cleared.
Hotspots for common graffiti include subways and train stations
which can create a negative first impression of towns and cities but
it also poses concern for countless businesses such as bars,
restaurants, schools and public conveniences.
Shop and restaurant frontages, bar and pub toilets are all targets
for unwanted graffiti and grime.And in the current economic climate,
eradicating graffiti and grime is more important than ever to attract
and retain a loyal customer base.
Simple solution
While it's not always possible to deter people from leaving graffiti
and virtually impossible to stop grime from the external
environment, there are some proactive steps which business owners
and facility managers can take.
Marker pen, paint and even make up are just some of substances
used for graffiti. Finding the correct solution rests on the versatility of
the product. Wipes suitable for graffiti removal, can act as the
solution, providing quick and easy cleaning for what can be a time
consuming task.
EC legislation on cosmetics (skin hygiene) stipulates that wipes
suitable for graffiti removal pass a certain number of tests for skin
irritation, are non toxic and not poisonous.Wipes such as the Lotus
Clean Anti-Graffiti wipes, are well suited for removing graffiti on any
non porous internal or external surface. An impregnated fluid works
instantly saving time and each wipe is dispensed individually, for ease
and cost control.
It is widely acknowledged that a small bit of graffiti can trigger
more to appear, so it's important to manage before it gets out of
control. Simple measures, like a ready supply of appropriate cleaning
products as part of regular cleaning and maintenance programme,
will ensure that graffiti is controlled and the cost to business
minimised.
School test
Eradicating graffiti isn't just a problem for private companies;
countless schools across the country are also battling to keep grime
at bay.
"Unwanted graffiti has been a problem at many schools I have
worked in, particularly in school toilets where staff aren't always
around to check on pupils," says Mark Turner, caretaker at Writtle
Infant and Junior School in Chelmsford, Essex,
"Having spent some time looking for a solution to remove graffiti
and grime easily,we discovered the Lotus Professional Ant-Graffiti
wipes.After a quick trial I soon realised they were a great solution for
removing unwanted graffiti.
"They are quick and easy to use and remove most of the graffiti
made with marker pens and biros on hard surfaces like toilet doors
and tiles. Best of all they come in a compact mobile unit and dispense
one at time, so they're cost effective too."
Contact Lotus Professional for
details of its wipes range. More articles from Georgia-Pacific GB Limited: | 
