How To Clean Paint Off Outlets

devicenull Premium Member join:2002-12-01 Piscataway, NJ	Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 8:32 pm Cleaning old paint off outlets? I know everyone's first suggestion will be to replace them, but I'm moving into an apartment, and I don't believe I have permission to do things like that. Anyone have tips on cleaning old (presumably latex) paint from outlets? There was enough on it where to get the covers off, I had to cut around the cover and outlet, then chip away at the paint with a screwdriver before I could pry the cover off the outlet. The sheer volume of paint on them meant I was bending the metal covers by attempting to pull them off. I know it's going to be a lot of work to do it, but painted over outlets are really ugly.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 8:32 pm ·
John Galt6 Forward, March Premium Member join:2004-09-30 Happy Camp	John Galt6 Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 8:48 pm Do yourself a favor and ask for permission to replace them at your cost. They are already letting you paint...
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 8:48 pm ·
tp0d yabbazooie Premium Member join:2001-02-13 Bulger, PA	tp0d to devicenull Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 8:48 pm to devicenull Something like this would work quite well I think.. »www.grainger.com/Grainge ··· er-2EXZ6 -j
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 8:48 pm ·
nunya LXI 483 MVM join:2000-12-23 O Fallon, MO	nunya to devicenull MVM 2011-Aug-13 8:55 pm to devicenull What is your time worth? A new receptacle is about $.40 and about the same for a new cover. Of course, the landlord should be footing the bill for any work you do to an apartment, or you shouldn't do any.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 8:55 pm ·
cowboyro Premium Member join:2000-10-11 CT	cowboyro to devicenull Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 9:27 pm to devicenull Use any paint stripper gel from HD/Lowe's/Walmart. 10 seconds to apply, wait 15 min, wipe off... Just cut the power before
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 9:27 pm ·
ArgMeMatey join:2001-08-09 Milwaukee, WI	ArgMeMatey to nunya Member 2011-Aug-13 9:35 pm to nunya said by nunya: What is your time worth? A new receptacle is about $.40 and about the same for a new cover. Of course, the landlord should be footing the bill for any work you do to an apartment, or you shouldn't do any. I would just replace the receptacles and plates too, but if this is an old building with cloth-and-rubber insulated wiring, replacing would be opening a can of worms. On the other hand, the paint stripper idea sounds messy and smelly. There are no good consequence-free DIY options, so choose the least bad. But the landlord should be involved regardless.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 9:35 pm ·
devicenull Premium Member join:2002-12-01 Piscataway, NJ	devicenull to John Galt6 Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 10:25 pm to John Galt6 Yea, they let us paint but if we don't paint it back to white when we move out, there's a $200 charge. I'll talk to them and see, it's definitely the easiest way of dealing with this.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 10:25 pm ·
devicenull	devicenull to nunya Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 10:28 pm to nunya Yea, if I owned the place there would be no question, the outlets would already be gone. As far as them footing the bill, the outlets are technically functional as they are now, so I find it unlikely they would go for that. It would be worth the $20 I spend on it to not have to argue with them over something like this.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 10:28 pm ·
Zach Premium Member join:2006-11-26 Thief River Falls, MN	Zach to devicenull Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 10:29 pm to devicenull If the receptacle contacts are still in good shape, as in, the plug isn't loose or falls out, what about a cover that covers the entire receptacle? »www.homedepot.com/Electr ··· Id=10053 If a plug won't stay tight, I'd notify maintenance. A loose receptacle is a safety hazard they need to repair. If the apartment is old enough to have many layers of paint on the receptacles, there is a good chance they are worn and in need of replacement.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 10:29 pm ·

devicenull Premium Member join:2002-12-01 Piscataway, NJ	devicenull Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 10:32 pm Hm, that might be a decent option, though I'm not sure how well something like that would fit over all the layers of paint, heh. A bit of internet research tells me rubbing alcohol will liquify latex paint. I'm not sure how well that applies to layers and layers of old paint, but I think I'm going to give that a shot tomorrow.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 10:32 pm ·
Zach Premium Member join:2006-11-26 Thief River Falls, MN 1 edit	Zach to devicenull Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 10:53 pm to devicenull How old is the building? Are the outlets grounded? When you pulled a cover, does the wire insulation appear to be a modern thermoplastic or does it appear to be a cloth-covered rubber? If the system is relatively modern copper with thermoplastic insulation, I'd probably switch 'em out and be done with it. If it's old rubber-covered, I'd put a chair in front of it or try something that doesn't disturb the wiring. If it's aluminum, I'd move.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 10:53 pm ·
Raphion join:2000-10-14 Samsara	Raphion to devicenull Member 2011-Aug-13 11:31 pm to devicenull 100% isopropyl alcohol makes pretty quick work of latex paint in my experience.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 11:31 pm ·
devicenull Premium Member join:2002-12-01 Piscataway, NJ	devicenull to Zach Premium Member 2011-Aug-13 11:52 pm to Zach I'll have to take another look at it tomorrow, I didn't look too closely when I was peeling the covers off.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-13 11:52 pm ·
Speedy Petey join:2008-01-19	Speedy Petey to devicenull Member 2011-Aug-14 8:43 am to devicenull Strippers are NOT an option as some WILL get into the holes and that is not a good thing. Replacing them is your/their ONLY option. And you replacing them is NOT an option AT ALL since this is place you are renting. Unless of course you are a licensed and/or qualified electrician.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-14 8:43 am ·
Pauly join:2004-05-29 canada	Pauly to devicenull Member 2011-Aug-14 9:05 am to devicenull my friend hired a cheap bargain painter to paint his appartment, he got paint all over his receptiple outlets and light switches, sometimes stuck in the holes. what do u expect for a bargin paint job? i paid a little more, and the guys remoevd all the covers, put painters tape and sometimes newspaper over the plugs and light switches, so even if paint were to drip on them, they can simply peel off the tape and the receptiple underneath is untouched. my friend was amazed when he saw my house. I also invested in the new decora switches and outlets a year ago so i did not want them ruined with paint.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-14 9:05 am ·
devicenull Premium Member join:2002-12-01 Piscataway, NJ	devicenull to Speedy Petey Premium Member 2011-Aug-14 9:22 am to Speedy Petey Rubbing alcohol is fine though. It's what's used a number of electronics cleaners.. if anything it's just going to clean the contacts in the outlet, instead of damaging them. I speak from experience, I've used rubbing alcohol a number of times to clean contacts in old video games.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-14 9:22 am ·
whizkid3 MVM join:2002-02-21 Queens, NY	whizkid3 to devicenull MVM 2011-Aug-14 10:10 am to devicenull While alcohol is a good idea; its also flammable. Make sure you kill the power before applying alcohol (or any other liquid), and wait for it to completely dry before turning the power back on. Personally, I would just replace the receptacles & covers. Remove the cover (and sand) before painting. After the painting is finished; replace the receptacles and covers. Yeah, if its old brittle wiring, one is better off not messing with it.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-14 10:10 am ·
devicenull Premium Member join:2002-12-01 Piscataway, NJ	devicenull Premium Member 2011-Aug-14 8:27 pm So it turns out rubbing alcohol works pretty well. It's a bit time consuming (far more then replacing the outlet), but it's not that awful. Killing the power was definitely the way to go first though, sticking wet, flammable towels into the outlet while it was on really wouldn't be a great idea. I'm not even attempting to save the covers, it's really a lot easier to replace them. I'll probably throw the old ones back on when I move out, no point leaving nice covers when the painters the apartment complex hire apparently paint right over them. I did discover that all the outlets are black plastic, which I was unaware were even produced.
	· actions · 2011-Aug-14 8:27 pm ·