How To Remove A Towel Bar From The Wall (Do This!)

Towel bars are a necessity if you want your towels to stay fresh and dry properly without smelling like mildew. However, sometimes you can grow tired of your current towel bar and need to replace it or remove it entirely. It can seem like a daunting task, but it’s quite simple, so, how exactly do you remove a towel bar?

You must first identify whether your towel bar is screwed into the wall or attached via a clip mechanism. Then, you either unlatch the clip or carefully remove the screws from the wall brackets with a hex key. From there, you remove the brackets with a drill and patch holes in the wall using drywall compound or epoxy.

The whole job won’t take longer than 20 minutes, but dry times for the drywall compound may take 24 hours. As long as you follow the steps as detailed below, you can remove your towel bar easily and without headaches. Let’s take a step-by-step look at how you can properly and safely remove your towel bar in a little time.

A pry bar is the only tool that you likely will not need to remove your towel bar. Pry bars only apply to towel bars that are not screwed into the wall, and they require care to use. You can do damage when using a pry bar, but if your towel bar has screws, you won’t need one.

Materials such as drywall compound and two-part epoxy resin are interchangeable and depend on your bathroom. For example, if your towel bar is fastened to ceramic tile, you will need two-part epoxy resin. Take a look at each step and see how it applies to your towel bar in your bathroom.

Depending on the towel bar that you own, there may be screws fastening it to the wall. If so, you will likely find them on each end of the bar going into the wall. However, if there are no screws, then you most likely will find a clip mechanism that holds your towel bar in place.

If your towel bar does have screws, they are most likely hex screws. Hex screws are easily removable with a hex key, so you’ll want to make sure that you have one on hand. However, your towel bar may be attached via a small Phillips screw, in which case you’ll need the appropriate screwdriver.

Using a hex key or Phillips head screwdriver, you can now remove the screws from the towel bar. Your screws are likely attached to a wall bracket, so you’ll want to support one end of the bar as you unscrew the other. Try to hold onto the bar so that you don’t damage the wall bracket when you remove the screws.

If one end of the towel bar drops as you remove the screws, it could pull away from the wall and you’ll need to patch it. You may want to have a helper to hold the bar while you unscrew each end to prevent damage. Once you’ve removed the screws, you can move on to the wall brackets and carefully remove them.

If your towel bar is attached to wall brackets, you will need to remove them. The easiest way to remove the brackets is by using a drill to quickly unscrew them. Your best bet is to use a Phillips No. 2 drill bit, or whatever bit size matches the screws on the wall brackets.

However, if you are simply switching out towel bars, then you can attach a new one to the brackets. This only works if the new towel bar matches the dimensions of the last one concerning the brackets. Otherwise, you can remove the wall brackets entirely and the job is almost done.

Removing a towel bar and wall brackets can leave behind some pesky holes that can be unattractive. Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, you must patch the holes that are left behind. If you’re aware of how much repairing drywall costs, then you know it’s worth saving money and patching it on your own.

Wall brackets are often attached to the drywall in your bathroom, and in that case, it’s imperative to repair. With that said, many builder-owners have ceramic-tiled bathrooms, and that can be quite easy to repair. All that you need to patch holes in ceramic tile is a two-part epoxy resin, and you simply brush or apply it to the holes.

Otherwise, you can use tile grout to patch the holes and paint over them with enamel to match your ceramic color. When it comes to drywall, your best bet is to apply drywall compound with a putty knife over the holes. Drywall compound can dry within 24 hours, and with such small holes, you won’t even need to sand it down.

Related Questions

How do you remove a towel bar without screws?

You can remove a towel bar without screws by using a flat tool, such as a pry bar. Chances are that there is a clip mechanism fastening it to the wall, and if so, you can disengage it. Otherwise, carefully remove the towel bar with a pry bar as to not damage the wall itself.

What can you do with an unused towel bar?

Once you’ve removed your towel bar, you can use it for everything from rolling a yoga mat, to a scarf rack. Depending on your kitchen layout, you can even repurpose your towel bar for hand towels or a drying rack. Unused towel bars are also a great way to improvise a makeshift toiletries rack or store shoes.

Are towel bars necessary?

Towel bars are necessary if you have space and want your towels to dry properly. They are particularly useful when it comes to living in a family household or with multiple roommates. Drying towels with a towel bar is the best way to avoid that mildew smell that comes with leaving wet towels bunched up.

How high should the towel bar be?

It’s generally suggested that you place your towel bar between 42” and 50” off of the ground. That way, your towel bar will be within reach of just about anyone that could need to use it. Any lower or higher, and it may make for an uncomfortable reach for some people in your household.

Removing a towel bar is easy and can be done in four simple steps that anyone can follow. You must first figure out whether your towel bar is screwed into the wall or uses a clip mechanism. A hex key or screwdriver is all that you will need to remove the bar from the wall brackets.

Removing the wall brackets typically requires a drill, so be sure to have one on hand. It’s a good idea to have an extra set of hands so that they can hold the bar in place as you unscrew each end. Not all towel bars attach directly to wall brackets, and if yours doesn’t, that will save you a step.

You will likely be stuck with holes and knicks in the wall after you remove the wall brackets. Luckily, you can quickly patch them using two-part epoxy resin, or drywall compound if the holes are in the drywall. Removing a towel bar is quick, easy, and shouldn’t take up more than 20 minutes of your time.