Graffiti -- paint over or use strong cleaners

Q. How can I remove or cover graffiti on the outside of a wooden house and from metal? Josephine Gerardi, New York

A. Painted or sprayed-on graffiti may be removed very easily by painting over with a good grade of house paint. This applies to either wood or properly primed metal.

Should the graffiti be other than paint, use a strong solution of detergent or tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). Scrub the affected area thoroughly.

And our veteran paint consultant thought that all the graffiti in the whole world was right there in his hometown!