Murakami 701 Haze & Ghost Remover – Powerful Stain Removal for Screen Printers

Non-Caustic — Safer Chemistry, Same Results

The main alternative to a non-caustic haze remover like 701 is a caustic product (like Murakami HR-700). Caustic chemistry is more aggressive on tough stains but carries real risks: severe chemical burns on contact, PPE requirements (nitrile gloves, goggles, rubber apron), and potential mesh damage if left too long on fine counts. 701 delivers strong haze removal performance without those hazards.

Broad Ink Compatibility

Highly effective on lacquer ink, lacquer stencil, enamel, vinyl, mylar, poster ink, UV ink, and plastisol. This covers virtually every ink system used in screen printing — textile, graphic, industrial, and specialty. One product handles ghost images from any run.

Will Not Damage Mesh

The water-soluble formula is specifically formulated to not attack or damage the mesh fabric. This is the key advantage over caustic haze removers, which can degrade fine mesh if dwell time runs long. 701 is safe on all mesh types and thread counts.

Use on a Dry Screen, After Full Reclaim

701 is a final reclaim step, not a first one. Always complete ink removal and emulsion removal first. Then dry the screen before applying 701. Applying to a wet screen dilutes the product and reduces its effectiveness on stubborn stains.

Use ASAP — Timing Matters

Murakami’s own technical training specifically notes that 701 works best when used as soon as possible after the job has been broken down and the screen reclaimed. Fresh ghost images where the ink has not completely set respond better than hardened, aged stains. Build the haze remover step into your immediate post-reclaim workflow — not a few days later.

Flexible Dwell Time — 1 to 15 Minutes

Light ghosting may respond in 1–2 minutes. More stubborn stains can dwell for up to 10–15 minutes. Do not let the product dry on the screen — re-wet if needed before rinsing. Repeat the application for the most difficult cases.

Water-Soluble — Drain Safe

The water-soluble formula rinses cleanly with high-pressure water and is drain safe under standard conditions. Check local waste authority requirements for your area.

Murakami-Recommended for Mesh Prep

Murakami specifically references 701 in their own emulsion technical data sheets as the recommended step for mesh prep before re-coating. Using it removes residual ink and chemical contamination that can cause pinholes, fish eyes, and poor emulsion adhesion in the next print run.

ChemistryNon-Caustic ✔

Safer than caustic alternatives

Ink TypesAll Types

Lacquer · UV · Plastisol · More

Dwell Time1–15 min

Based on stain severity

Mesh SafeYes ✔

All types & counts

🔍 What Causes Ghost Images?

Ghost images are ink stains embedded in the mesh knuckles after a print run. They happen when ink — especially dark plastisol, UV, or specialty inks — gets trapped in the weave of the mesh and isn’t fully removed during standard reclaiming.

Ghost images cause real production problems: pinholes in solid areas, contamination of the next ink color, and inconsistent ink transfer during the following job.

Prevention is easier than cure. The best practice is to clean screens while the ink is still wet immediately after press. Murakami’s own training notes that dried ink takes 2–3x longer to clean than wet ink. When ghost images do occur, 701 is the solution.

⚠️ Non-Caustic vs. Caustic: Which Do You Need?

Murakami 701 (non-caustic) — For the vast majority of ghost image situations. Safer, mesh-friendly, works on all ink types. Start here.

Caustic haze removers — For the most extreme, hardened stains that 701 can’t fully address. More aggressive but require full PPE (nitrile gloves, goggles, rubber apron), can cause severe burns on skin contact, and can damage fine mesh if left on too long. Use only when non-caustic options are exhausted.

Rule of thumb: always start with the safer chemistry. Move to caustic only when necessary.