diff --git a/resources/lib/playlists/pms.py b/resources/lib/playlists/pms.py
index 372a7a5b..a22dee7d 100644
--- a/resources/lib/playlists/pms.py
+++ b/resources/lib/playlists/pms.py
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ def initialize(playlist, plex_id):
     """
     LOG.debug('Initializing the playlist with Plex id %s on the Plex side: %s',
               plex_id, playlist)
+    url_path = utils.quote(f'/library/metadata/{plex_id}', safe='')
     params = {
         'type': v.PLEX_PLAYLIST_TYPE_FROM_KODI[playlist.kodi_type],
         'title': playlist.plex_name,
         'smart': 0,
-        'uri': ('library://None/item/%s' % (utils.quote('/library/metadata/%s'
-                                                        % plex_id, safe='')))
+        'uri': (f'library://None/item/{url_path}')
     }
     xml = DU().downloadUrl(url='{server}/playlists',
                            action_type='POST',
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ def add_item(playlist, plex_id):
     Will set playlist.plex_updatedat
     Raises PlaylistError if that did not work out.
     """
+    url_path = utils.quote(f'/library/metadata/{plex_id}', safe='')
     params = {
-        'uri': ('library://None/item/%s' % (utils.quote('/library/metadata/%s'
-                                                        % plex_id, safe='')))
+        'uri': f'library://None/item/{url_path}'
     }
     xml = DU().downloadUrl(url='{server}/playlists/%s/items' % playlist.plex_id,
                            action_type='PUT',
diff --git a/resources/lib/utils.py b/resources/lib/utils.py
index 70da790d..6efb6a19 100644
--- a/resources/lib/utils.py
+++ b/resources/lib/utils.py
@@ -398,61 +398,46 @@ def escape_path(path, safe_url_char=SAFE_URL_CHARACTERS):
         # using RegExp and using safe_url_char as safe characters not to be escaped
         protocol = is_http_dav_ftp.group(1)
         user = is_http_dav_ftp.group(6)
-        psswd = is_http_dav_ftp.group(7)
-        if user and psswd:
-            user = urllib.parse.quote(user.encode('utf-8'), safe=safe_url_char).decode('utf-8')
-            psswd = urllib.parse.quote(psswd.encode('utf-8'), safe=safe_url_char).decode('utf-8')
+        passwd = is_http_dav_ftp.group(7)
+        if user and passwd:
+            user = quote(user, safe=safe_url_char)
+            passwd = quote(passwd, safe=safe_url_char)
         host = is_http_dav_ftp.group(8)
         port = is_http_dav_ftp.group(10)
         url_path = path.replace(is_http_dav_ftp.group(), '', 1)
         if url_path:
-            url_path = urllib.parse.quote(path.replace(is_http_dav_ftp.group(), '', 1).encode('utf-8'),
-                                    safe=safe_url_char).decode('utf-8')
-        return protocol + \
-               u'://' + \
-               (user + u':' + psswd + u'@' if (user and psswd) else u'') + \
+            url_path = quote(path.replace(is_http_dav_ftp.group(), '', 1),
+                                    safe=safe_url_char)
+        return f'{protocol}://' + \
+               (f'{user}:{passwd}@' if user and passwd else '') + \
                host + \
-               (u':' + port if port else u'') + \
-               u'/' + \
-               (url_path if url_path else u'')
+               (f':{port}' if port else '') + \
+               (f'/{url_path}' if url_path else '')
     else:
-        # If paths does not seem to be a http(s), dav(s) or (s)ftp url (e.g. plugin://)
-        # escape path as before
-        return urllib.parse.quote(path.encode('utf-8'),
-                            safe=SAFE_URL_CHARACTERS).decode('utf-8')
+        # If paths does not seem to be a http(s), dav(s) or (s)ftp url (e.g.
+        # plugin://) escape path as before
+        return quote(path, safe=SAFE_URL_CHARACTERS)
 
 
 def quote(s, safe='/'):
     """
-    unicode-safe way to use urllib.quote(). Pass in either str or unicode
-    Returns unicode
+    Pass in unicode, returns unicode
     """
-    if isinstance(s, str):
-        s = s.encode('utf-8')
-    s = urllib.parse.quote(s, safe.encode('utf-8'))
-    return s.decode('utf-8')
+    return urllib.parse.quote(s, safe)
 
 
 def quote_plus(s, safe=''):
     """
-    unicode-safe way to use urllib.quote(). Pass in either str or unicode
-    Returns unicode
+    Pass in unicode, returns unicode
     """
-    if isinstance(s, str):
-        s = s.encode('utf-8')
-    s = urllib.parse.quote_plus(s, safe.encode('utf-8'))
-    return s.decode('utf-8')
+    return urllib.parse.quote_plus(s, safe)
 
 
 def unquote(s):
     """
-    unicode-safe way to use urllib.unquote(). Pass in either str or unicode
-    Returns unicode
+    Pass in unicode, returns unicode
     """
-    if isinstance(s, str):
-        s = s.encode('utf-8')
-    s = urllib.parse.unquote(s)
-    return s.decode('utf-8')
+    return urllib.parse.unquote(s)
 
 
 def try_encode(input_str, encoding='utf-8'):
diff --git a/resources/lib/windows/direct_path_sources.py b/resources/lib/windows/direct_path_sources.py
index fc49816e..48716ddb 100644
--- a/resources/lib/windows/direct_path_sources.py
+++ b/resources/lib/windows/direct_path_sources.py
@@ -155,8 +155,7 @@ def start():
                 xml.write_xml = False
                 return
             user = user.strip()
-            user = urllib.parse.quote(user)
-            user = user.decode('utf-8')
+            user = utils.quote(user)
             # "Password"
             # May also be blank!! (=user aborts dialog)
             password = utils.dialog('input',
@@ -164,16 +163,15 @@ def start():
                                     '',
                                     type='{alphanum}',
                                     option='{hide}')
-            password = urllib.parse.quote(password)
-            password = password.decode('utf-8')
+            password = utils.quote(password)
             utils.etree.SubElement(entry,
                                    'from',
-                                   attrib={'pathversion': '1'}).text = '%s/' % path
-            login = '%s://%s:%s@%s/' % (protocol, user, password, hostname)
+                                   attrib={'pathversion': '1'}).text = f'{path}/'
+            login = f'{protocol}://{user}:{password}@{hostname}/'
             utils.etree.SubElement(entry,
                                    'to',
                                    attrib={'pathversion': '1'}).text = login
             xml.write_xml = True
     except utils.ParseError:
         return
-    LOG.info('Successfully completed editing sources.xml and padsswords.xml')
+    LOG.info('Successfully completed editing sources.xml and passwords.xml')