Without electrocuting myself...
2006-09-03 16:34:57 · 35 answers · asked by warehaus 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Cut a potato in half, jam it on the socket and twist out the metal holder (oh and do unplug it first).
2006-09-03 16:37:13 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Go to the breaker box and put it in "off" position (or else remove the fuse if you have a fuse box). MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CUT THE ELECTRICITY!!! Get long nose pliers and try to bend slightly the edge of the bulb base and when you can get a good grip turn it counterclockwise. If there still is some of the bulb glass (of the globe) wrap (carefully) in cloth and break away whatever is left before you start. If the base is "rust frozen" in the socket you may have to replace the socket. BE EXTREMELY CAREFULL WITH THE BROKEN GLASS. If you can, get googles (eye protection) and gloves.
2006-09-03 16:45:39 · answer #2 · answered by Jose R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the power to the socket is turned off. Cut a potato in half and push it down over the metal base of the bulb and try to unscrew it. Worked for me!
2006-09-03 16:37:16 · answer #3 · answered by StLMom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most important is to turn off the power first, at the circuit breaker if possible. Next you can take a pair of needle nose pliers and instead of gripping some part of the metal, spread the pliers apart inside the metal base and while using the pliers to hold the inside of the metal base try to unscrew it. I did this myself last week and I know that it works. -----My wife says to use a potato... good luck!
2006-09-03 16:41:08 · answer #4 · answered by Scooter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FIRST make sure the electricity is off. Then cut a potato in half, stick it into the broken socket and turn the old base out! Sounds weird, but it works great. Throw the potato out.
2006-09-03 17:46:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Turn off power to light...switch or unplug.
Get a potato, cut it in half, push the white side onto the metal lightbulb base...unscrew.
Clean light before putting in new bulb.
2006-09-03 16:38:18 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Light sockets can still be live even if the wall switch is off if the switch is wired incorrectly----so turn off the breaker if you know which one it is.If you don't then turn off all the power.
Use a 1" wood chisel across the base,pressed in firmly,and unscrew.
Plyers can distort the base and make it almost impossible to get out.
2006-09-03 18:48:12 · answer #7 · answered by sircaulksalot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn off the light switch or the power ..then using a potato cut in half ..flesh side up push the potato into the remaining pieces of the bulb and turn the bulb out. Be careful!!
2006-09-03 17:03:05 · answer #8 · answered by vtlovie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try cutting a potatoe in half and then jamming that over the metal base and then unscrewing it. I saw it on tv once and it seemed to work. Make sure the light is off though!
2006-09-03 16:38:23 · answer #9 · answered by the_fatmanwalksalone 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If there are shards, use a potato. Cut the potato in half, then push it onto the shards, and then use the tater to unscrew the base. I think that's how you do it.
Oh, and UNPLUG IT FIRST! Potatoes conduct electricity.
If that doesn't work, very carefully use a pair of needle nose pliers to grip the base and unscrew.
2006-09-03 16:38:46 · answer #10 · answered by mynickname 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋