How to remove wall plugs: The quick & easy way
Wall plugs are designed to sit firmly in the wall – that’s what they’re for. But how do you get them out again without damaging the wall? We’ll explain the best methods for removing wall plugs and share a few tricks from the toolbox.
It's all about the wall plug
Think you can just grab it with pliers and pull? Depending on the type, wall plugs are anchored in the wall in different ways. If you use the wrong method to remove them, you could end up with cracks in the wall. That's why you should first check what type of wall plug you're dealing with:
Typ | Erkennungsmerkmal | Typisch für |
|---|---|---|
Allzweck- / Universaldübe | Typischer Dübel, meist aus Kunststoff | Leichte Aufhängungen (Bilder etc.), alle Wandtypen |
Gips- / Dämmstoffdübel | Selbstschneidende Dübel mit breitem Außengewinde, meist aus Kunststoff | Gips- und Dämmstoffflächen, insbesondere an Fassaden |
Hohlraumdübel | Komplexer Wanddübel mit ausklappenden Widerhaken, aus Metall | Wände in Hohlraum-Bauweise |
Spreizdübel | Dübel mit kleinen Widerhaken, aus Kunststoff | Leichte Aufhängungen (Bilder etc.), Massivwände |
Removing simple wall plugs
You can remove standard universal and expansion wall plugs in no time if you can get a good grip on them. Here's how to do it:
- Choose a screw that fits snugly into the wall plug.
- Turn the screw into the plug, no more than 2 cm deep.
- Grip the screw with a pair of pliers and pull the whole thing out of the wall.
How to remove stuck wall plugs
If you want to remove stubborn universal or plasterboard plugs, you can drill them out. This basically involves grinding them out of the drill hole. You will need a drill or a cordless screwdriver with a drill bit. Here’s how to do it:
- Select a drill bit with a slightly larger diameter than the wall plug.
- Drill directly into the plug using light pressure.
- Check regularly to see if the plug has been completely drilled out.
Tip: If you feel a sudden resistance when drilling into solid walls, you have drilled through the plug and hit the masonry behind it.
Removing self-drilling wall plugs
Self-drilling wall plugs with an external thread are just as easy to remove as they are to screw in. Here's how:
- Choose a suitable screwdriver or a pair of flat-nosed pliers.
- Turn the wall plug anti-clockwise to unscrew it.
- Make sure your tool is sitting straight in the wall plug as you turn.
Removing hollow wall anchors
Removing hollow wall anchors is a little trickier, as they work differently to the other types of wall plugs we've mentioned. To remove metal cavity fixings, follow these steps:
- Choose a long screw that fits perfectly.
- Carefully screw it in. It’s important that it engages with the thread at the back of the fixing, while still sticking out from the wall by at least 2 cm.
- Gently tap the screw inwards with a hammer. This pushes the threaded part out behind the wall, causing the fixing’s barbs to retract.
- When the screw can’t be hammered in any further, the barbs have retracted enough.
- Now you can pull the hollow wall anchor out of the wall by hand or with a pair of pliers.
Tip: How to remove a wall plug without tools?
If you don't have a suitable tool to hand, simply screw a corkscrew into the wall plug and then pull it out. Just make sure the corkscrew doesn't go in too deep, so the wall plug doesn't expand.
What to do after removing wall plugs
You don't need to be a DIY expert to fill drill holes, you just need the right tools and a little bit of care:
- Clear any dust and debris from the drill hole (a vacuum cleaner is best for this).
- Dampen the inside of the hole (using a cotton bud, for example).
- Use a silicone, plaster or cement-based filler to fill the hole.
Did you know? As a tenant, you are not always required to remove wall plugs. Your landlord can ask you to remove them if the number of holes in the walls is considered excessive. Check your tenancy agreement – it will usually have clear rules on this.
