Is there a quick way to removed outlet plates that have been painted over? The screws have been painted over.?

Question

My outlets and light switches have been painted over and I am having difficulty removing them. Is there some sort of solvent that might be useful? It's been years since they've been removed, I'm sure.

Answer 1

Use a razor knife to remove the paint from the screw heads. Then take the blade trace around the outside edge of the cover plate. This will break the paint seal between the cover plate and the wall.

Don't use chemicals or any other liquid that others are telling you to do. These liquids are going to be conductive and you will get shocked.

If you need further assistance, please visit -
http://electricalblog.gilchrist-electric.com

Answer 2

Do NOT Use Solvents!!

Not only do you run the risk of a fire...but if these are plastic covers (as most are), you will damage them.

Instead, simply use a thin flat bladed screwdriver, or knife blade, and scrape the paint out of the screw head...then remove the screw... if the cover was painted to the wall... you may need to run a utility knife blade, gently, around the edge of the cover, to cut the paint, so the cover will pop off.

I am VERY surpised at the number of answers here, suggesting that you use a solvent near live wires! That is Extremely dangerous. Ive seen a simple static spark cause a rag with a little solvent in it to flame up! I hate to think of what might happen if you squeezed a little solvent INTO the outlet or switch!

Just be patient, and scrape the paint out of the screw heads... after youve done a few, you will find you can do it fairly quickly...and it is much much safer!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

What you'll want to do is use a razor (utility) knife and carefully cut around the plates, right along the edges, without going into the drywall material too much. Do this so as to not peel off any paint around the plates. Use the tip of the razor and clean-out the slots on the screws. Remove the screws and pry the plates off kind of gingerly, starting at the bottom (so if you mark the drywall doing this it will be less noticeable). Just get new plates because they're inexpensive. In order to not have to replace the receptacles and switches, just take some time and scrape the paint off with a small flat-blade screwdriver or the like. Turn the breaker off for each section as you go (I never do) just to be safe. If they're really bad or broken, you'll want to replace them and I would recommend getting a book on home-electrical if you haven't done it before. Homeowners (and renters) can do this kind of work. Anyway, good luck.

Answer 4

Don't use chemicals on electrical devices it could cause a fire. Just scrape the paint out of the screw heads, back out the screws and replace the covers.

Answer 5

scrape the paint off the heads of the screws, unscrew them and then "worry" the plates away from the wall.

Answer 6

Scrape of the paint. Wal plates are generally made of plastic its easy to do. I have done this hundreds of times.

Answer 7

scrape the paint off and remove the screws.

Answer 8

paint stripper or acetone from the hardware store.

vinegar and bicarb soda paste may do the trick, also but it would depend on how bad it is. try this first and use the chemical option as a last resort.

Answer 9

mineral spirits from the painting section ( hardware dept ) of wal mart and buy new switch covers

Answer 10

try useing an electric screw driver to back them out if not then place a screw driver in them and tap it with a hammer to set it and thenback it out