Use A Dot Of Glow-In-The-Dark Paint To Find Your Light Switch In The Dark

Fumbling in the dark for a light switch isn't just annoying; it can be downright dangerous. Navigating a blacked-out room while sleepy increases the potential for tripping or falling — and that's something we all, but young children and older adults especially, can't risk. Solve this problem quickly and inexpensively by buying a small bottle of glow-in-the-dark paint from your local hardware store. Dab a splotch of paint on the offending light switch with a paintbrush, and voilà la, you can find a light switch in even a pitch-black room.

First, you'll need to make sure you're using the right kind of paint. The glow-in-the-dark paint used in art and crafts is made to be looked at rather than touched, so it's typically not that durable. Instead, look for luminescent paint designed for indoor and outdoor use. It should be waterproof, washable, and practical for non-porous surfaces like plastic, glazed ceramic, and glass. 

Head to your local hardware or craft store, or look online for luminescent paint. For example, Rust-Oleum Glow in the Dark (the can of paint, not the spray) is waterproof and washable, meaning it won't rub off when you clean your light switches. Michaels also has a glow-in-the-dark paint by Craft Smart, designed for use on non-porous surfaces. The 2-fluid-ounce bottle is perfect if you just need to dot a few light switches. 

If you can't find what you need, you can even make your own glow-in-the-dark paint. Use a small wooden mixing stick to combine a gel mixing medium and fine phosphorescent glow powder in a small screw-top plastic jar. A 1-ounce bag of powder will make around 4 ounces of paint with maximum glow. You can also mix the powder into light-colored acrylic paint at a 1:5 ratio.

Where you put the dab of paint depends on the types of light switches you have. A single-pole light switch needs just a dot of paint right at the end of the switch, whereas you might need to paint the entire dial of a dimmer switch. First, tape off any areas you don't want to get paint on. Turn off the power to the light switch in your fuse box. Then using a small paintbrush, dab it onto your switch.

Since you might not be able to see the first layer of glow-in-the-dark paint. Apply at least two coats to the switch to get an intense glow, allowing the paint to dry between each. How long the paint will take to cure depends on the manufacturer's instructions, but expect at least 1 hour. If you have a UV or black light handy, use it to check you've added enough paint. The paint will probably scratch off over time and start to look unsightly or lose its glow, so keep the paint can or bottle in case you need to re-do a switch.

Glow-in-the-dark paint isn't the only way to illuminate a light switch in your home — though it's arguably one of the most cost-effective. There are lots of ready-made products on the market, from phosphorescent stickers, switch plates, to digital panels with illuminated keypads. And, of course, there's always the option to go old-school and keep a battery-powered pocket torch on your nightstand.