How to Remove Drywall Anchors Without Damaging the Wall

Most drywall anchors come out with a screwdriver or a pair of pliers. When one won't budge, the cleanest option is to push it into the wall cavity or sink it just below the surface, then patch over it. Either way, the hole left behind takes a little spackle or a small patch, texture and paint.

Identify the drywall anchor first

• Plastic expansion anchors are small ribbed sleeves that spread as the screw goes in.
• Threaded (self-drilling) anchors are plastic or zinc, with coarse threads and a wide head, screwed straight into the drywall.
• Molly bolts are metal sleeves that collapse and flare out behind the drywall.
• Toggle bolts have spring-loaded wings that open behind the wall.

How to remove each type of anchor

• Plastic expansion anchors. Thread a screw a few turns into the anchor, then pull the screw with pliers or the claw of a hammer to bring the anchor out with it. If the anchor spins or breaks, push it into the wall with a screwdriver slightly bigger than its opening.
• Threaded anchors. Turn them counterclockwise with a Phillips screwdriver. They back out the way they went in.
• Molly bolts. Remove the screw. The sleeve stays flared behind the drywall, so pulling it would tear the wall. Pry the flange up with a putty knife and snip it off, or tap the head into the wall.
• Toggle bolts. Unscrew the bolt all the way and the wings drop into the wall cavity, where they can stay.

When a drywall anchor won't come out

Go gently. Pulling hard on a stuck anchor can tear the drywall's paper face and turn a small hole into a big one. Score a circle around the anchor head with a utility knife, then tap the anchor just below the surface with a screwdriver and hammer, or push it through into the cavity. The patch covers it either way.

Patching the hole

1. Cut away any loose paper or raised edges so the surface is flat.
2. Fill small holes with spackle. For holes over about ½ inch, use a self-adhesive mesh patch and joint compound.
3. Sand smooth once it's dry, match the wall texture and prime the spot.
4. Paint. On a wall that was painted a while ago, paint to the corners so the color matches.

See how to patch a hole in drywall for larger holes, and hanging artwork without damaging drywall for choosing anchors next time.

Drywall repair in Orlando

Moving out, taking down a TV mount or clearing a wall full of old anchors? New Ceilings patches anchor holes and bigger damage across Orlando and Central Florida, then matches the texture and paint so the wall looks untouched. Every job starts with a free written quote. See drywall and ceiling repair.