How to Change a Broken Light Bulb
Changing a broken light bulb puts you at risk of getting cut by broken glass. Sometimes if a bulb is in the socket too tightly, it will get stuck and break when you try to remove it. Thankfully, there are a few tricks you can use to unscrew a broken light bulb safely.
Safety
Before you try to change a broken light bulb, make sure the lamp is unplugged or, if you can't unplug it, the circuit is shut off. You might have to poke around in the light socket with metal tools, and you don't want to get electrocuted.
Wear protective goggles to shield your eyes from any more broken glass and lay a tarp on the ground to catch any glass that falls. If the broken light bulb is hanging from the ceiling, wear a hat to protect your head. If the bulb was in a standing lamp or table lamp, hold the base between your legs to keep it secure while keping both hands free.
Pliers Method
Grip the base of the broken light bulb using a pair of needle-nose pliers. If the pliers won't fit between the light bulb base and the socket, you may have to carefully bend the edge of the light bulb base inward using the pliers. Once you have a good grip, slowly twist the broken light bulb counter-clockwise until it comes out of the socket.
Potato Method
Cut a potato in half. Press one of the raw sides against the broken light bulb until the edges of the glass are embedded in the potato. Once the light bulb is secure, twist the potato counter-clockwise until the light bulb comes out of the socket.
Prevention
When you screw a new light bulb into the socket, first rub the light bulb base with a light coating of petroleum jelly. This will help prevent the light bulb from getting stuck in the socket again.
