I thought I had rid our home of that horrible 1980s off-white fixtures when we painted our bathroom tile floors, but I was wrong. Our outdated outlets are a constant reminder of the almond, beige nightmare below. But luckily they’re very easy and cheap to fix. Here’s how to replace an old outlet without having to hire an electrician.

Difficulty Level: 1/5

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Screwdriver

• Needle-nose plyers

• Wire cutters (possibly)

• Wall plate

• White outlets

1. Turn off the power:

Locate the circuit breaker that controls the outlet and turn on the power to avoid getting electrocuted while working on the outlets. As always, use the metal door on the circuit breaker to shield your face when flipping the switch. Sparks can happen for no reason and that metal door will keep you safe. Before touching the outlets, use a voltage checker to ensure the power to that specific outlet is indeed off.

2. Remove the old outlet:

Unscrew the outlet plate and receptacle and pull it out of the electrical box in the wall. At this point, you’ll see two bundles of wires: each with a black and white wire and a shared copper or green wire.

Black wires are “hot” wires, which means they carry the electricity to the outlet. You will see these connected to brass screws on the sides or stabbed into the back of the outlet. The white wires are neutral and will be connected to the silver screws on the sides or stabbed into the back of the outlet, as well. The green or copper wires will be connected to the green grounding screw on the top of the outlet.

3. Disconnect the wires:

If the wires are wrapped around their corresponding screws, simply loosen the screws with a screwdriver and unravel the wires. If your outlets are “backstabbed” or sticking out of the back of the outlet, you will need to “release” them using the tip of your screwdriver. One quick punch will pop those wires out.

More on the differences between these wiring systems later.

4. Connect the new outlet:

You’re now ready to connect the new outlet. There are two code-approved ways to install your outlets: backstabbing and back wiring. Our home was built in 1984 when backstabbing was the normal practice when installing outlets. We have had no issues and actually, all of our outlets still work. We’re simply replacing them because they’re dingy and off-white and/or covered in paint. It’s time for a refresh.

This is a widely-practiced electrical practice, however, the newer home will likely be back wired — which takes a bit longer but can reduce the likelihood of “electrical arching.”

Backstabbing simply means forcing the wires into the back of the electrical outlet.

Back wiring is when the wires are wrapped around their corresponding screws instead.

5. Install the new outlet:

Once everything is connected, push the outlet back into the electrical box in the wall. The hard part is over! You did it. Now screw the outlet back into place using the original screws.

6. Turn on the power:

Head back to your circuit breaker and switch the power back on. Plug a lamp or fan into the outlet to ensure it’s working well and the connection is correct. Once you have confirmed it's functioning, turn the power back off to finish the job.

7. Final touches:

Screw the wall plate back on and you’re done! We used these paintable outlet plates so they match our walls. I love how clean and modern they make the space.

Note: Always use caution when working with electricity and make sure to follow the National Electrical Code and any local regulations.