How do you safely removed a light bulb end from a ceiling light?

Answer 1

All the answers are good. Just in case you didn't turn it off properly, only use one hand and stand on a wooden ladder or a wooden chair or wear running shoes. Do not touch anything with the other hand. It may be a good idea to protect your eyes with some kind of glasses. If you have to use pliers and the power is not off, you will get a flash and trip the breaker. This is not a problem, but you may jump, so don't be startled and fall. The glasses are for protection from small pieces of glass. Glass is really hard to get out of your eyes. Electrician for 50 years, seen and done it all.

Answer 2

Shut off the light switch. Climb on a ladder up to it with a half a potato. Press the cut side of the potato into the jagged broken edge of the bulb's glass. Twist the potato counterclockwise to unscrew the broken part from the socket.

Answer 3

Use a potato. Turn off the light switch, cut the potato in two, stuff the cut end into the broken light socket, slowly turn to remove the old bulb base.

You can also use needle nose pliers.

Answer 4

For starters, if there is a switch controlling the socket, turn it off :) I once read a suggestion that went something like the following. Use some vetgable that's about the right size - say a carrot. Jam it into the broken bulb's base and turn counterclockwise to uncrew it as if it were a screwdriver. You might still want to wear gloves since vetagables contain water. Also, you might be able to use something else like a wooden dowel.

Answer 5

Be sure the electricity is turned OFF, either at the wall switch or the breaker box, if you know the correct breaker, then take a pair of long nosed pliers with insulated handles and twist the base counterclockwise to remove it. Sometimes you have to get ahold of the metal outside ring, sometimes you can take it out by what remains of the glass insulator in the center. Once you get it started just continue slowly to rotate it until it drops out of the socket. The potato thing sounds cute, but potatoes conduct electricity and can get you a nasty shock.

Answer 6

This sounds weird, but it works. Peel a medium potato. Turn light switch off. Use pliers and pull off glass in middle. Then stick the potato in the open bulb base and unscrew it. The potato will grab onto the ruffled edges of socket.

Answer 7

Cut a potato in half and gently push it against the broken end of the light bulb. Turn it gently and it should come right out. Sounds silly, but it works!

Answer 8

Go to your hardware store and buy a bulb base extractor. It is made to remove broken bulbs with the base still in the socket. Be sure to wear proper eye protection also.

Answer 9

Turn off switch. Use Kleins preferably or needlenose if you don't have kleins.
DO NOT try to grab the outside of the shell.
Instead, put the kleins or needlenose inside the shell and then spread them while turning counter closckwise.
Trying to grab the outside of the shell will damage your socket beyond repair.
I am a master electrician and have had to replace many damaged sockets because someone ruined the socket trying to grip the outside of the shell.

Answer 10

I used an apple...softly pushed it into the glass that was left...it was broken and then turned it...and it worked nicely and I did not
have a problem...shut off the power incase the juice gets into the socket.