5 Ways To Remove LED Strip Lights Without Peeling Paint

LED strip lights bring joy to any room. However, problems arose while removing them. I faced the peeling paint issue when I intended to remove my LED strips a few weeks ago. I did some research on how to remove LED strip lights without peeling paint & solved my problem successfully. I’m going to share my experiences in this article. 

You can remove LED strip lights without peeling paint by applying heat & mild petroleum. You can also use lacquer thinner if you don’t want the heat to react with latex paint. Be cautious while applying heat as excessive heat will damage the lumens of LED lights. If it does, you’ll notice your LED strip light won’t function the same way. 

If you’re interested in knowing the LED strip removal process thoroughly, follow this article. I’ll be discussing how you can safely remove LED strip lights without damaging paint & replace the LED strip in any other places. Without further ado, let’s get started:

Does Removing LED Strips Lights Damage Paint? 

LED strip lights won’t directly damage the paint, but the adhesive with LED strip lights can sometimes damage the paint. The good news is this damage doesn’t happen to everyone. 

But, if you’re not using quality paint & being careless while removing the LED strips – it will guarantee damage to your paint. 

That’s why you should always use quality paint for your wall & follow the next segment to know how you can carefully remove LED strip lights.

How To Remove LED Strips Lights Without Peeling Paint: Top 5 Methods

Here are the five methods you can apply to remove LED strips without peeling your wall paint: 

1. Apply Heat Source: Use Hair Dryer & WD-40 

So, you’ll be using your hair dryer as the heat source here & WD-40 as the mild petroleum. Follow these steps below to successfully do the removal job: 

• Step 1: Disconnect the LED strip light from the power source. 
• Step 2: Aim your hair dryer to the LED strip light for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Step 3: Use a dull plastic object to lift the LED light strip from the wall surface. 
• Step 4: Gently & slowly peel the LED strip.
• Step 5: If needed, use WD-40 for extra loosening of the LED strip’s adhesive. 

2. Apply Heat Source: Use Heat Gun & WD-40 

If you don’t have a hair dryer, you can buy an inexpensive heat gun which will work even better. Also, don’t forget to bring WD-40 which will work as the petroleum for the removal task. Now, follow these steps below: 

• Step 1: Unplug the LED strip light from the electricity.
• Step 2: Use the heat gun & aim underneath the LED strip lights for 1-2 minutes. 
• Step 3: After loosening the LED strip adhesive, use a plastic dull object to lift the LED strip from the wall surface. 
• Step 4: Gently & slowly remove the LED strip. 
• Step 5: If you notice the paint is still peeling off, use WD-40 & then remove the LED strip.

3. Utilize Rubbing Alcohol in Removing LED Strip Lights  

If you don’t want to use any heat source to remove LED strip lights, you can use rubbing alcohol. Follow the steps below: 

• Step 1: Disconnect the LED strip light from the electricity. 
• Step 2: Apply rubbing alcohol to the adhesive part of your LED light strip. 
• Step 3: Give the alcohol some time to loosen the adhesive. 
• Step 4: Use a dull plastic object to remove the LED strip light.
• Step 5: Make the removal process as slow as possible. 

4. Use Kitchen Items: Hot Water & White Vinegar Solution

If you don’t want to use any heat source or rubbing alcohol, you can use your kitchen item white vinegar & hot water to remove the LED strip light safely. Follow these steps to know how you can do it: 

• Step 1: Disconnect the LED light strip from the electricity. 
• Step 2:: Take a bowl & pour some hot water into it
• Step 3 Mix white vinegar to make a 50/50 solution of white vinegar & hot water. 
• Step 4: Take a paintbrush or damp cloth & soak it in the water-vinegar solution. 
• Step 5: Apply the water-vinegar solution underneath the LED light strip.
• Step 6: After loosening the adhesive, gently pull the LED light strip with the help of a plastic object. 

5. Latex Paint Exclusive: Use Lacquer Thinner

If you have used latex or acrylic paint on your wall, you shouldn’t use any heat source on the wall. Heat can react with these water-based paints & may damage the paint even worse than the removal of the LED strip could.

That’s why you should use lacquer thinner to dissolve the adhesive of the LED light strips so that you can safely remove them. Follow the steps below: 

• Step 1: Unplug the LED strip light. 
• Step 2: Get yourself an inexpensive paint brush and apply lacquer thinner underneath the LED strip light. 
• Step 3: Give it some time to dissolve the adhesive.
• Step 4: Pull the LED strip light & you’re good to go. 

Safety Measures To Consider While Removing LED Strips Lights

There are 3 of the most important safety measures you should always keep in mind while doing the LED strip light removal task. They are: 

1. Always remember to turn off the electricity or unplug the LED light strip from the electricity.  
2. Don’t apply heat to the LED strip light for more than two minutes. 
3. Don’t apply heat to any water-based (Latex & Acrylic) paint. 

How To Replace Used LED Strips In Other Places?

You have successfully removed your LED strip lights without peeling the paint. However, you have also damaged the adhesive & it won’t stick on the wall again. What if you want to reuse the LED strips in another place? Follow this segment to know how you can do it. 

Hang LED Strip Light On Wall With External Adhesive

You can use various solutions such as – double-sided tape, mounting putty & command strips to re-use your LED strip light. None of the solutions mentioned won’t damage your wall if you intend to remove the LED lights again. 

Hang LED Strip On Wall Without Adhesive  

If you don’t want to use adhesive anymore, you can use other solutions such as – LED strip mounting clips or LED strip mounting channels. I have a dedicated article on how to hang LED strip lights on a wall without adhesive, you can check that article to know more. 

Conclusion

I hope this article helped explain how to remove LED strip lights without peeling the paint. If you follow the methods mentioned in this article, I’m sure you won’t damage or peel off the paint while removing the LED strip light. 

You may still peel your wall paint if the quality of the paint isn’t up to the mark. If the paint peels off, make sure to use quality paint while repairing the damaged paint of your wall.