Cleaning after electrical tape
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Cleaning after electrical tape
In removing old electrical tapes from switches and outlets and end up getting the residue adhesive on all my fingers and then the smudges and smear on the white switches and cover plates, what is the best way to clean them?
I know mineral spirit will work, just not sure it's a good idea to wipe flammable solvents near electrical components.
I know mineral spirit will work, just not sure it's a good idea to wipe flammable solvents near electrical components.
#2
I have good luck with that citrus hand cleaner stuff -- comes in wipes or soap form. It is an oil solvent, but not so nasty as mineral spirits or other thinners.
#8
Member
Just turn off the power, use rubbing alcohol, and wait a reasonable amount of time before turning the power back on.
The nice thing about alcohol is that it's low-odor compared to mineral spirits, WD-40 or that orange stuff.
Hint: Turning off the power is important.
The nice thing about alcohol is that it's low-odor compared to mineral spirits, WD-40 or that orange stuff.
Hint: Turning off the power is important.
#9
Group Moderator
Alcohol is definitely a good choice to remove the adhesive, the pirate solved the flammability problem for you.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
I supposed by wrapping them makes it less likely to have a short or accidentally touching something when you are working on another device in the same box?
#11
As you have found, tape and its' residue make a mess. It is not needed. The power should be turned off before you do anything in the box. If you were an employee OSHA rules would apply and those rules only allow working hot with very limited circumstances.
#12
Two or three turns of electrical tape provide minimal protection, and is a waste of tape and time. In some small older metal boxes, the tolerances are much closer, and modern receptacles seem to fill the box more fully. In such an instance taping helps keep the screw heads from touching the box. I see you are using plastic boxes, and the tolerances are much wider, and the boxes are non conductive, so using tape is not necessary. Like Jim said, power off, install the receptacle, centered in the box, then power on. The steadfast rule is "No Shock".
#13
Member
Thread Starter
I am not using plastic box, but metal boxes and EMT conduits.
The picture was just something I linked.
Since it seem to be done all over, or at least down here in South Florida everyone seem to be doing it, so I figured it couldn't hurt.
There are times I pulled off a switch plate, and not sure of the circuit (it was wired by someone else), and I needed to pull off the outlet or the switch, to get to the wire behind it, to see the wire, sometimes the color of the wire, or sometimes a label on the wire, or the position of the conduit connection, will clue me in the circuit it may be on. If I know the circuit, I always turn power off, if I don't, I may do a bit of poking with a voltage tester. Just seem like with the electrical tape around it is less hazardous, or at least in the mind.
The picture was just something I linked.
Since it seem to be done all over, or at least down here in South Florida everyone seem to be doing it, so I figured it couldn't hurt.
There are times I pulled off a switch plate, and not sure of the circuit (it was wired by someone else), and I needed to pull off the outlet or the switch, to get to the wire behind it, to see the wire, sometimes the color of the wire, or sometimes a label on the wire, or the position of the conduit connection, will clue me in the circuit it may be on. If I know the circuit, I always turn power off, if I don't, I may do a bit of poking with a voltage tester. Just seem like with the electrical tape around it is less hazardous, or at least in the mind.