LED light strips make excellent house decorations and are widely used for outdoor illumination. The simplistic design makes it simple to improve a place. The lights look wonderful around your audio system and are simple to install thanks to their 3MM backing. However, you may need to relocate your LED light strips from time to time. You could be relocating to a new location or wish to relocate the lights. This raises the issue of how to remove and reuse your LED light strips.
To remove and restick LED light strips, disconnect them and heat the adhesive backing using a hairdryer. Then carefully peel it away from the wall without hurting the paint. After that, you may place the light strip somewhere else by using an affordable double-sided adhesive backing.
As you may have discovered, removing an LED light strip is not difficult, but you must use caution. It’s also worth noting that you’ll need to reapply an adhesive backing to restick the light strip to another wall. Let’s go through some specifics on how to do this correctly so that you may reuse and recycle your LED light strips properly.
Is it possible for LED strip lights to damage my wallpaper?
Whether you want to change your décor or repaint your walls, the requirements for interior design are always evolving. Something you enjoy today may not be as appealing in a few years.
So, if you decide to remove the LED strip light, the technique will differ based on the surface.
When the LED strip light is removed, a wooden, plastic, or tiled wall should be good. They will readily peel off and will not damage the wall. If any adhesive residue remains, simply wipe it away with a clean cloth.
The actual issue emerges when your LED strip is installed on bare drywall that has been painted or covered with wallpaper. They are made up of several delicate layers, making them extremely prone to injury.
Your wallpaper is nothing more than beautiful paper. Given its tight connection with the surface, a powerful adhesive would immediately tear it off.
Regardless matter the quality of your wallpaper, it will eventually shred, tear, or ripple. The rips are most noticeable on patterned backgrounds, where there is no way to conceal them.
How to Remove LED Strip Light From Wall?
When you’re ready to remove LED light strips and restick them somewhere else, there are four simple procedures to do. Let’s start with the most fundamental, disconnecting the light strip and heating the glue.
Step 1: Disconnect the Light Strip and heat the Adhesive
Unplugging any electrical equipment before working on it seems intuitive, but light strips are a bit different. When trying to see the end of the strip, the extra light might be useful. Despite their low voltage, LED lights are still hooked into a 120V outlet. Unplugging the lights protects you against an electric shock.
Because the adhesive on the reverse of the LED light strip is meant to adhere to a surface for years, it will not readily peel away. Pulling on the strip may lose paint if you are not cautious. Heat the glue before removing the light strip to avoid hurting the wall (a hair dryer works great for this). You can direct the heat exactly where you want it.
Move the blow dryer carefully and on low to medium heat along the length of the strip. You want the glue to soften and remove completely without causing any harm. It will help removing the strip simpler without damaging any wall paint. Apply heat until you find it becoming easier.
Step 2: Locate an End and a Corner
It is easier to begin at the end of the strip, and it makes no difference which one. Locate a corner that is easily accessible. You’ll also need a thin, flat item, such as a coin, which works well, especially dimes. A credit card or a butter knife can also be used. Be cautious not to damage the paint, no matter what you use.
The flat object should be slipped below the corner. The glue should be soft from the heat, so simply work it in. Once you’ve lifted a corner, continue wriggling the object beneath the length of the cable until you reach the other end.
While gently raising and removing the light strip, the back and forth action does not scrape the wall surface. If the glue is very stubborn, seek the assistance of another person to hold the hairdryer and continually reheat the adhesive as you proceed along the length of the light strip.
As the glue releases, carefully pull on the strip. Pulling too hard might cause damage to both the strip and the wall. Once you start removing the LED light strip, you don’t want to stop. The blow dryer just slightly weakened the glue. The glue rehardens as it cools, and you risk harming the wall.
Step 3: Get Rid of the Sticky Residue
You’ll notice a sticky residue on the wall after removing the LED light strip. Don’t worry, it doesn’t indicate the wall is harmed; it simply needs a good cleaning. You can use your thumb if there is only a little amount of residue.
In a circular motion, rub the stuck-on glue. It causes it to ball up, making it easy to remove off the wall. If there’s a lot of it, clean it up using a soft sponge or rag with soap and water.
Can LED Light Strips Cause Wall Damage?
Although the majority of LED strips will not damage your wall paint, this is totally dependent on the manufacturing process. During the removal procedure, cheap adhesives utilized on the strips might tear off the paint with them. This may be especially difficult if you live in a leased home. Your landlord may charge you for tampering with the wall paint.
Simply explained, excellent quality LED strip lights will not damage the walls.
However, the scenario can change depending on a number of things, including:
- The adhesive’s tensile strength
- The longevity of wallpaper or paint
- The time when the LED strip light has been installed on the wall
- Climate or the surrounding environment
Do LED Strip Lights Peel Off The Paint When Removed?
The answer to this question is dependent on the sensitivity of the paint on your wall. Even if your paint is of the best quality, it will begin to deteriorate with time, making it more delicate.
When removing the strip light, fresh paint is less prone to peel.
However, old paint that has withstood water/moisture damage would peel off just as quickly.
Also, do not put strip lights to freshly painted walls that have not been thoroughly dried. A paint coat cures entirely in around 2 to 4 weeks. If you set your strip light on such a wall, the paint will cure it. This would make removing the strip light difficult, resulting in paint flaking and peeling.
Furthermore, the paint application technique has an effect. The removal of LED strips may be hampered if paint is put to rusted, dusty, unclean, or unprimed walls. The wall should be good, but when you remove the LED strip light, you can see pieces of wall paint peeling off.
Can You Use Super Glue to Attach LED Strip Lights?
Never use superglue to adhere LED strip lights to the wall. For one thing, they adhere securely to the wall and will not come off without causing damage to the paint. They can also harm the plastic covering on the LED strip.
Can You Reuse An LED Strip Light After It Has Been Removed From The Wall?
Yes, after removing the LED strip light from the wall, you may reuse it and put it in the preferred area. If the adhesive backing of your strip has worn out, you can replace it using double-sided tape.
Conclusion
LED strip lights are a lifesaver for individuals who live in rental flats and enjoy changing up their atmosphere on a regular basis. At the same time, the same utility may have some unintended effects.
If you are concerned about harming the wall, place a 3 MM tape in an inconspicuous area such as a corner or behind a piece of furniture. If you pull the tape as described above and find a mark, the paint used may be of poor quality, in which case you should avoid utilizing the lights. If there are no markers, feel free to utilize the strips as you see fit.