How to Remove Child Proof Outlet Covers (and What to Do Without the Removal Tool)
Lever a cover out with the included removal tool, push it back in when you unplug, and never pry with metal or anything else if the tool is lost or a cover sticks.
Here is how to remove child proof outlet covers: the included removal tool levers a cover out. You pull it the rest of the way off by hand. Without the tool, the safe move is to contact Baby Proof Me support. Never improvise a pry.
The Electrical Outlet Plug Covers come in packs of 24 or 48, and the free removal tool is included. The outlet cover removal tool is the only way Baby Proof Me’s outlet cover install video takes a cover out. If you are looking up how to remove outlet plug covers because the tool has gone missing, the sections below tell you what to do next.
How to remove child proof outlet covers with the removal tool
Follow these steps in order. They work for taking out one cover and for putting it back.
How to remove a cover and put it back
-
Take the tool
Take the included removal tool. -
Slide in the tip
Slide its flat tip in at the top edge of the cover, between the cover and the outlet face. -
Lever the cover
Lever the tool so the cover tilts out. -
Pull it off
Pull the cover the rest of the way off by hand. -
Line up the prongs
When you unplug, line the cover’s prongs up with the outlet’s slots. -
Push it in
Push the cover in securely. -
Tug the edge
Tug the cover’s edge with your fingers. A fitted cover should stay in.
If a cover will not stay in when you tug it, stop using that cover. Contact Baby Proof Me support with a photo.
Lost the Tool or the Outlet Cover Won’t Come Out
The included tool is the only removal method Baby Proof Me shows. So don’t improvise a substitute. If you’re searching for “how to remove outlet plug without tool,” that is the honest answer.
Never pry a cover out with a knife, fork, key, screwdriver or any other metal object. Put nothing into the outlet’s slots except a plug or the cover itself. The AAP says young children, particularly toddlers, get electric shocks most often when they bite into electrical cords or poke metal objects such as forks or knives into unprotected outlets or appliances.
The mistake is reaching for whatever is nearby. A kitchen drawer is full of things that look like they would work. Metal in an outlet’s slots is the hazard the AAP describes, so close the drawer and contact support instead.
If you lost the tool: contact Baby Proof Me support with your order number. Keep covered outlets covered in the meantime. If your covers are another brand, follow that maker’s own removal instructions.
If a cover is stuck: slide the tool’s flat tip in again at the top edge, between the cover and the outlet face, as in step 2 above. Don’t force it. If it still won’t move, stop and contact support with a photo. Don’t dig at the outlet with anything else.
If a Cover Is Cracked or the Outlet Feels Warm
Stop using a cover that is cracked or broken. The product’s warning says to stop using it immediately if it becomes faulty. Contact support with a photo if you are unsure.
The outlet itself can be the problem. The CPSC’s home electrical safety checklist says to have an electrician check outlets that are not working properly. It also says to stop using unusually warm outlets or switches until an electrician checks them, because they may indicate an unsafe wiring condition. MedlinePlus likewise advises having an electrician check any plugs or outlets that feel warm.
Putting Covers Back When You Unplug
A cover goes back as soon as the outlet is free. The CPSC’s checklist calls for safety covers on all unused outlets when children are present. Children can suffer serious shock and burn injuries if they insert objects into outlets.
While something is plugged in, keep its cord out of your child’s reach. The AAP advises keeping electrical cords out of reach and sight. A broader outlet and cord safety guide can help you check the rest of the room.
Picture this: you unplug the vacuum, the phone rings, and you walk away from an open outlet. Putting the cover back before you leave the spot closes that gap. Use steps 5 through 7 above every time you refit a cover.
The question of when outlet covers can come off for good is separate from how to use them today.
Where to Store the Removal Tool
Keep the tool where your child can’t reach it. Never leave it beside the outlet. A tool within reach invites a curious child to try it.
The CPSC advises making sure outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children. It also notes that determined toddlers have been known to overcome or disable safety devices. A high shelf in another room works better than a nearby spot.
Choose one place and return the tool there every time. That way it is less likely to end up on a counter or in a bag within reach. That habit matters most with toddlers who outsmart baby-proofing.
Covers Add a Layer, Not Supervision
The covers are not a toy and are not a substitute for adult supervision. That is their own warning. They add one layer to your setup, and you stay the main protection.
Stay close when a child is near an outlet that is uncovered, even for a minute. A plugged-in cord, an open outlet and a curious toddler is the combination to watch.
If you want to know how much covers help, the outlet cover safety data is the place to look. Whatever it says, a cover that is out of the outlet is not covering anything, so put it back.
