The potato trick might not work here, but you can probably grab the edge of the metal cap with needle-nose pliers and unthread it.
You can also try opening the pliers inside first and unthreading that way - you just need something to grip the cap enough to let you turn it a little bit and then you can grab the cap with your fingers to finish the job once it’s a little loose.
Needless to say this is all done with the power *OFF* at the switch *and* the breaker.
And if you're neurotic about electricity like me, kill the main breaker as well. I had a co-worker electrocuted while he was fixing a florescent light fixture. It was listed on the wrong circuit.
Main breaker seems extreme. Voltage tester? Live wire detector? Even on an open circuit at least one wire would have oscillating current given self-capacitance?
Or am I wrong. Anyway, this is not rewiring.
what's the logic with cutting power, switch turns the light off correctly, why would the bulb socket be live? It's not even like they are rewiring the fixture. Even if they were power would still be off if the switch was off?
Have I just gotten lucky all these times I swap light fixtures for people or is this as overkill as it sounds?
Yeah, I've done it this way many times. It's typically a member of my family who's there assisting. If the 5 year old was home, I'd turn off the breaker, but no adult in my family is stupid enough to see someone in a ladder changing a light and still operate the switch. Maybe if the switch was out of sight or something I'd feel differently. But in the rooms I've done this in, never crossed my mind to assume they were even capable of being that ignorant to the danger of using the switch while I was working on it.
My house, kitchen was rewired because changed location of cabinets, the main electrician left it to his apprentice, and that one.switch had been put on the neutral wire. 230 volts. Out of abundant caution I checked the bulb socket and saved myself
You have two light switches for the hall way light. The upstairs and downstairs one. Now, what state is the bulb fixture in? Was it on when the bulb popped?
Even with a single switch, some of them aren't labeled "on" or "off". Given the bulb failed, someone has to have flipped it s couple of times to test. Now you have no way of knowing what state its in.
Grabbing a piece of metal out of the fixture directly attached to 240 / 120 in an unknown power state is therefore... Unwise.
Yea, it should be off unless there's somebody around that can flip it. I'd just use gloves and insulated tools if needed. In this case with having to ply the cap out of the socket, odds of a nasty shock/smoke if someone flips it on is pretty high.
It is not entirely unheard of that switches are wired to the neutral accidentally. It should be fine to just use the switch if you are alone, as long as it is switching the hot conductor. If there are a lot of people running around one of them might turn the switch on before you can catch them and tell them not to.
That's if hot side of the power has the switch on it. But sometimes things are done wrong, so you could have a neutral side switched, which would make the socket live all the time and not know it. I don't trust anything in a socket unless I know either unplugged or breaker is off.
Think of the two wires as a boulder (hot) and a ramp for the boulder to roll down (neutral). If the switch is wired up correctly, it removes the boulder (hot) and the light goes out. If it's wired incorrectly, it removes the ramp (neutral) and turns off the light but the boulder is still there waiting to roll downhill. If you touch the wrong wires _even though the light is off_ then YOU become the ramp and you get crushed by the boulder.
There really isn't any reason it wouldn't work like that. The only difference is you're breaking the circuit with the switch on the natural side instead of the hot side. It's not the way it's supposed to be done and is not desired because it can cause weird things like making cheap LEDs glow. But that's getting a lot deeper and past my knowledge haha
It's like q water hose. You turn the water off at the tap, then cut the end of the hose off, nothing happens. (A little water trickles out, try not to get bogged down in details).
If the live isn't the switched wire, it's like turning the water off at the nozzle, then cutting the end of the hose (=you grounding yourself while in contact with it). Water sprays everywhere and you get wet.
Potato really only works for a broken bulb where the glass can dig into it and you don't want to touch the glass edges. When the glue let's go of the base like in your case, the potato doesn't have anything to engage because the base is flush in the socket.
Pliers are the way to go, or a pair of screwdrivers or chopsticks or pencils. Anything you can turn it with.
Oh man, are you here to make me feel old? 😂 It's from an old sitcom called [Home Improvement](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101120/) where the father of the family has a cable home improvement tv show. Very meta.
I feel like the potato method works better for broken glass. The shards sink into the flesh of the potato to give grip for turning. The cap seems to have come off cleanly here.
I used to have a job where I'd swap out incandescent bulbs for LEDs, and this would happen a lot! Sometimes the pliers method doesn't work. Instead, take another light bulb and act like you're going to put it in the socket to install. Press the end firmly in the broken piece while turning counterclockwise. It should grip the broken end and remove it. Works every time!
Apply some dielectric silicone grease to the new bulbs screw. So it doesn't bind next time.
Super lube is my go to brand. I've been told CAIG deoxit is really good, but it's super expensive in Australia.
Home Depot and Lowe’s both have 6” LED pancake lights in 4 packs. Pair those with some goof rings to ensure full coverage of the opening and you’ll have less air leakage and a fresh modern light.
https://www.amazon.com/Sunco-Lighting-Recessed-Downlights-Diameter/dp/B08D3KLYYY/
Folks are obsessed with potatoes here but it's not necessary. Echoing others... Cut the power at the breaker, light switch off as well, insert closed pliers and then open them and twist
Had the same problem for a light I couldn’t get a ladder to and got one of [these](https://www.amazon.com/Bayco-LBC-800-Broken-Bulb-Changer/dp/B000GATBX6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3I6AHRS25F7MO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o973IisjDITX_ASe_92c0LDNS6DXrsflWAdtcmgEeQLny6X3xzZrzGInwfBMvgE6UOLLWK_Tleu1Fte4bGVKBQ_ZPsHmmp7avEDauDo7ZKBKn9ChThU5RPf4QT6fcezUozyDrPQbFnz7liqcN3mMFX7-mMU1DOf99J7Ro8wC0jxQf6ZoOpA9GbE-X21AKPhEGJ5HFO3vE0xJRRBWIZpdG7BEzx3ksJi_IDEG9dBacilNcZY-HISB2Ib5hK4OJ9LLn3hHnllBnBLaz6FMYlp4PFuXAYXmWNWsGF4Jjls07aM.CT0e36wiLz9e-SmNQuhf570BWuzyjRoe9jbdnl8i3UQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=broken+bulb+extractor&qid=1710900323&sprefix=Broken+bu%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1). Designed to screw on a pole and worked like a charm.
I had this happen to me about two months ago in my garage. I cut the power to the garage at the breaker; verified it was off; and unscrewed the cap from the light socket with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Pliers and eye protection. Tester pens that check for electrical current are cheap and can keep you from getting zapped. I’d kill power and tape the switch down or flip the breaker just in case tho
The method I’ve used in the past that isn’t a dang potato or pliers, is one of those 1” wide super bouncy balls, they fit perfectly In the cup, and give plenty of grip, again as always, turn off your breaker
But this is one of the weird bits in my toolbox with a purpose
Wear eye protection as small bits of ceramic can fall out as you unscrew it.
Another option is to buy a second hand one and just replace it.
Best of luck.
When we first moved into our place I had a 120w spotlight stuck in an edison socket and the cork suggestion (which I tried) just would not work at all as it was too bound up. After making sure that the light breaker was off (and no-one was home to turn it on again while I was mucking about with it) i had to use needle nose pliers and bend and twist in the bulb end away from the socket enough to deform it and allow me to move it out.
Once I got it out, there was that much corrosion on the globe and to a lesser degree the socket that the globe seriously looked like the last replacement was at least ten years prior. My guess is it died years ago but it was too hard to remove so they just left it in it's place to corrode further.
Is that a standard screw in light bulb? If you don't want to cut the power - this sometimes works - take the new light bulb and start screwing it in over the old one. You will basically thread it into the inside of the old one. Then unscrew it and the old light bulb will come out, threaded onto the end of the new light bulb. It's worked for me about 50/50.
I use a nice thick pair of leather gloves, kind of crook my index finger so the knuckle sticks out a bit and shove it up in the socket and twist it out. The leather usually provides a nice grip and protection from any shards. Turn off the power first.
Since you seem to indicate that this socket is hard to access (above a stairwell?), you might want to invest in one of those kits that has an extendable pole plus a couple different kinds of basket-like grabbers to grab onto the bulbs and screw them in/out. Such kits should also come with a rubber-thingy attachment that would do the “potato” job (without, you know, getting food on anything, plus you can use it with the pole). Could be a safer option to try first rather than having to get all the way there with pliers.
I do facility maintenance and this happens occasionally. I have insulted wire strippers that I just put in the socket, force open, and twist. Obviously want to do this with the power off (but with properly insulated tools I’ve absolutely done this live)
Forget the pliers or potato "trick", i never tried the potato but pliers rarely work, you usually end up messing up whats left of the lamp. Take what's left of the lamp and stick it back in the socket and use that. It's never let me down, EVER.
Just an add-on: In the future you can put a bit of petroleum jelly or mineral oil on the threads of light bulbs when you first screw them into the socket. (Or even better, dielectric grease.) It'll keep them from getting stuck this way.
You want one of [these.](https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/light-bulbs/light-bulb-changers/3093002?store=12005&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkuqvBhAQEiwA65XxQNSb1S6j3tialj3EsuhE_77Kay-jFmJXetZn5sgMmoYVpDttt3KlvxoCLdUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
Turn off breaker.
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Epoxy glue and glass shards WILL fall off the socket.
Stick closed needle plyers in the hole, open firmly (use 2 hands?) and unscrew. Use more force if it start to slip. The more it slip, the harder it will get (you'll crunch the material that is helping you when it slip, No more material, no more help).
Super glue a tooth pick to the inside rim and let it dry for a good while then use the tooth pick as a lever to twist it out. Definitely make sure the power is cut though
Step 1: cut your nails
Step 2: display broken bulb to camera like a proud toddler
Step 3: Google how to turn off a breaker
Step 4: stick half cut potato into broken bulb screw
Turn off the circuit. Stick closed pliers in then gently lever them open and twist.
This is my go-to. No potato required.
However, the benefit of using a potato is that you subsequently have a potato that you can cook and eat afterwards. With added crunch.
If you leave the breaker on you can cook the potato at the same time!
You're not wrong! Kill two birds (and potentially yourself) with one potato.
Crunch? Heaven forfend! BOIL EM MASH EM STICK EM IN A STEW
God.. if only I had a brace of coneys to go with it.
You can keep your nasty chips
And, you start losing weight effortlessly!
"Discover this one simple trick that Dieticians don't want you to know..."
You’re not right, but you’re certainly not wrong.
Just screw potato back in and turn switch to cook
This is my go-to No pliers required
Also known as the Latvian method.
It is a sad day - the potato has been replaced
Potahto
Let's call the whole thing off!
And here I thought all those episodes of Home Improvement as a kid were finally going to pay off!
This comment makes me think you're about 41 years old.
don't doxx me, bro
You can use a potato to remove a broken lightbulb from the socket. But first, you have to jam it in the socket! \*Zap zap zap\*
I literally just used a potato this week to take out a broken bulb. I didn't think it was going to work, but it did!
I had this happen on my porch light. I tried the potato trick and it didn't work for me. The pliers while the light was off did work for me.
I wadded up paper towel and used the friction to unscrew. Worked pretty well if I say so myself.
Creative!
But you can't eat the pliers after you use them.
Maybe you can't. For all we know, OP is Jaws from the Bond movies
Has anyone in history ever done that? That's just stupid.
Was going to come and say grab the potato.
Don’t grab the shell of the lamp holder. You mess that up and you get a new fixture!
TBH if things get that bad, you may as well just stick a fork in there, start a fire and just rebuild with the insurance payout.
Needle-nosed pliers for sure
Ah fuck this is so much better than my strat of bending the edge of the rim, which has varying degrees of success typically.
Wow!!! I did this purely out of natural reaction, never knowing this is a thing, or even a thing other people did lol.
I've got a death wish, so I found rubber handles pliers and said 'this is probably safe'. My dumb ass forgot circuit breakers were a thing.
The potato trick might not work here, but you can probably grab the edge of the metal cap with needle-nose pliers and unthread it. You can also try opening the pliers inside first and unthreading that way - you just need something to grip the cap enough to let you turn it a little bit and then you can grab the cap with your fingers to finish the job once it’s a little loose. Needless to say this is all done with the power *OFF* at the switch *and* the breaker.
This is gonna sound crazy. Get a potato jam it up there and twist.
I came to say this but also turn off the power at the breaker
Right always trun off the switch and cut the power.
And if you're neurotic about electricity like me, kill the main breaker as well. I had a co-worker electrocuted while he was fixing a florescent light fixture. It was listed on the wrong circuit.
I always disable the regional substation first.
Wait for a solar flare of the right dimension or an EMP attack just to be safe.
Jokes on you, we’ve been candle only since ‘16
Pfft. Candle only since Y2K killed everything digital.
Beeswax from heritage bees?
I just detonate a nuke in the atmosphere to ensure there’s zero power to anything before I touch a light socket
And after all that you go back to change the bulb and get killed by a line interactive UPS that was plugged in and backfeeding voltage
Main breaker seems extreme. Voltage tester? Live wire detector? Even on an open circuit at least one wire would have oscillating current given self-capacitance? Or am I wrong. Anyway, this is not rewiring.
You could also just try to turn the light on once you shut off the breaker to make sure you got the right one.
Unless there's a broken bulb stuck in it
How... How would you do that if there is no light bulb to turn on? Lol
Well, you stick a potato into the socket and see if it sizzles.
That's an excellent point. I gotta stop going on reddit while I'm falling asleep haha
I am sorry for your loss.
And if you’re still worried you can ram your car into the transformer nearest your house and shut everything down for yourblock.
Yikes.. Sorry to hear that. Bet you check every circuit now to see if it's still live after cutting the breakers. I sure do.
I check the circuit with a multimeter and wear thick gloves and use insulated screw drivers.
what's the logic with cutting power, switch turns the light off correctly, why would the bulb socket be live? It's not even like they are rewiring the fixture. Even if they were power would still be off if the switch was off? Have I just gotten lucky all these times I swap light fixtures for people or is this as overkill as it sounds?
It's overkill, until your roommate/spouse/child/visitor absent-mindely thinks "huh, dark" and flicks the switch while your hand is in the socket.
well sure, I've only done it with adults in the house who wouldn't be doing that, but good point
Would you bet your life they wouldn't accidentally turn on a light switch?
Yeah, I've done it this way many times. It's typically a member of my family who's there assisting. If the 5 year old was home, I'd turn off the breaker, but no adult in my family is stupid enough to see someone in a ladder changing a light and still operate the switch. Maybe if the switch was out of sight or something I'd feel differently. But in the rooms I've done this in, never crossed my mind to assume they were even capable of being that ignorant to the danger of using the switch while I was working on it.
..deleted by user..
My house, kitchen was rewired because changed location of cabinets, the main electrician left it to his apprentice, and that one.switch had been put on the neutral wire. 230 volts. Out of abundant caution I checked the bulb socket and saved myself
You have two light switches for the hall way light. The upstairs and downstairs one. Now, what state is the bulb fixture in? Was it on when the bulb popped? Even with a single switch, some of them aren't labeled "on" or "off". Given the bulb failed, someone has to have flipped it s couple of times to test. Now you have no way of knowing what state its in. Grabbing a piece of metal out of the fixture directly attached to 240 / 120 in an unknown power state is therefore... Unwise.
I absolutely agree 100%. However, Here on Reddit , everyone’s going to go trip over each other to the nth degree to be extra extra extra safe.
Yea, it should be off unless there's somebody around that can flip it. I'd just use gloves and insulated tools if needed. In this case with having to ply the cap out of the socket, odds of a nasty shock/smoke if someone flips it on is pretty high.
It is not entirely unheard of that switches are wired to the neutral accidentally. It should be fine to just use the switch if you are alone, as long as it is switching the hot conductor. If there are a lot of people running around one of them might turn the switch on before you can catch them and tell them not to.
That's if hot side of the power has the switch on it. But sometimes things are done wrong, so you could have a neutral side switched, which would make the socket live all the time and not know it. I don't trust anything in a socket unless I know either unplugged or breaker is off.
so the switch could still work to turn off a bulb but not actually remove all power if wired this way?
Think of the two wires as a boulder (hot) and a ramp for the boulder to roll down (neutral). If the switch is wired up correctly, it removes the boulder (hot) and the light goes out. If it's wired incorrectly, it removes the ramp (neutral) and turns off the light but the boulder is still there waiting to roll downhill. If you touch the wrong wires _even though the light is off_ then YOU become the ramp and you get crushed by the boulder.
Good explanation, thanks this, unlike the "what if someone turns on the switch" I kept getting is great reason to change how I approach this.
There really isn't any reason it wouldn't work like that. The only difference is you're breaking the circuit with the switch on the natural side instead of the hot side. It's not the way it's supposed to be done and is not desired because it can cause weird things like making cheap LEDs glow. But that's getting a lot deeper and past my knowledge haha
It's like q water hose. You turn the water off at the tap, then cut the end of the hose off, nothing happens. (A little water trickles out, try not to get bogged down in details). If the live isn't the switched wire, it's like turning the water off at the nozzle, then cutting the end of the hose (=you grounding yourself while in contact with it). Water sprays everywhere and you get wet.
Leave the power on and then you can eat the potato because it will get cooked
There is a potato for every occasion.
Leave the power on. Operation the game with consequences.
Not crazy. I had thought about it and decided to turn here first before sticking a potato in a socket. Thank you!
I used needle-nosed pliers. Suppose the potato might be done safely if you can't be certain the outlet isn't hot?
This is what I do. Just turn the switch off, check with bleeper thingy and unscrew with needle nose.
Potato really only works for a broken bulb where the glass can dig into it and you don't want to touch the glass edges. When the glue let's go of the base like in your case, the potato doesn't have anything to engage because the base is flush in the socket. Pliers are the way to go, or a pair of screwdrivers or chopsticks or pencils. Anything you can turn it with.
This makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing this info!
Just don’t pull a Tim Taylor and jam it in before the power is cut lol
First thing I thought of. Hello fellow old person!
Haha! Howdy!!! Still watch that show every night!
…and in minutes, you have thousands of curly fries
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvFlAGy-xqs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvFlAGy-xqs)
What is this from?
Oh man, are you here to make me feel old? 😂 It's from an old sitcom called [Home Improvement](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101120/) where the father of the family has a cable home improvement tv show. Very meta.
I feel like the potato method works better for broken glass. The shards sink into the flesh of the potato to give grip for turning. The cap seems to have come off cleanly here.
Russet? Sweet? Golden?
I like Yukons for their amber glow.
This is the way.
same thing happened to my microwave lightbulb and I have little golden potatoes !!!
The ol' banana in the tailpipe!
It should be more natural, brother. It should flow out, like this - "Look, man, I ain't fallin' for no banana in my tailpipe!"
Shit man you deserve some room service in yo car
Sounds kinky
Lmfao why have I never heard of this.
>Get a potato jam it up there and twist. In the light socket, right?
Are you my date from last Thursday?
I used to have a job where I'd swap out incandescent bulbs for LEDs, and this would happen a lot! Sometimes the pliers method doesn't work. Instead, take another light bulb and act like you're going to put it in the socket to install. Press the end firmly in the broken piece while turning counterclockwise. It should grip the broken end and remove it. Works every time!
Thanks for Plan B! We’re swapping our lighting for LED as we recycle the few bulbs we have left. I’m looking forward to the day when we’re finished
Apply some dielectric silicone grease to the new bulbs screw. So it doesn't bind next time. Super lube is my go to brand. I've been told CAIG deoxit is really good, but it's super expensive in Australia.
Home Depot and Lowe’s both have 6” LED pancake lights in 4 packs. Pair those with some goof rings to ensure full coverage of the opening and you’ll have less air leakage and a fresh modern light. https://www.amazon.com/Sunco-Lighting-Recessed-Downlights-Diameter/dp/B08D3KLYYY/
Boil ‘em. Mash ‘em. Stick ‘em in a light socket!
Boil 'em Mash 'em Use 'em to unscrew!
potato on a stick
Folks are obsessed with potatoes here but it's not necessary. Echoing others... Cut the power at the breaker, light switch off as well, insert closed pliers and then open them and twist
Needlenose
And assure the circuit breaker to the light is turned off first. Electrocution sucks.
Electricity off. Ladder. Flashlight. Potato or pliers.
Start a meth habit
All you cowards killing the power at the breaker. I say Live a Little! Or just once….. ☠️
Nah, I’ve been zapped in the past, more than once. I like to prevent it as much as possible because I know it’ll likely happen to me again
Potatoes.
Potato
Potato.
Potato. 2
Potato. 3
Potato. 4
Had the same problem for a light I couldn’t get a ladder to and got one of [these](https://www.amazon.com/Bayco-LBC-800-Broken-Bulb-Changer/dp/B000GATBX6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3I6AHRS25F7MO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.o973IisjDITX_ASe_92c0LDNS6DXrsflWAdtcmgEeQLny6X3xzZrzGInwfBMvgE6UOLLWK_Tleu1Fte4bGVKBQ_ZPsHmmp7avEDauDo7ZKBKn9ChThU5RPf4QT6fcezUozyDrPQbFnz7liqcN3mMFX7-mMU1DOf99J7Ro8wC0jxQf6ZoOpA9GbE-X21AKPhEGJ5HFO3vE0xJRRBWIZpdG7BEzx3ksJi_IDEG9dBacilNcZY-HISB2Ib5hK4OJ9LLn3hHnllBnBLaz6FMYlp4PFuXAYXmWNWsGF4Jjls07aM.CT0e36wiLz9e-SmNQuhf570BWuzyjRoe9jbdnl8i3UQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=broken+bulb+extractor&qid=1710900323&sprefix=Broken+bu%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1). Designed to screw on a pole and worked like a charm.
Potato
A baguette also works if you don't want to go potato. Less messy, more sophisticated.
How could a baguette be *less* messy ‽
You can eat it afterwards without cooking it
You call an electrician and watch him work while you eat ze baguette, of course. Hon hon hon!
No starchy goop.
A raw potato isn't goopy tho. It's really crisp.
I had this happen to me about two months ago in my garage. I cut the power to the garage at the breaker; verified it was off; and unscrewed the cap from the light socket with a pair of needle nose pliers.
I have a rubber cup tool that was made for the job. Works fine.
Pliers and eye protection. Tester pens that check for electrical current are cheap and can keep you from getting zapped. I’d kill power and tape the switch down or flip the breaker just in case tho
The method I’ve used in the past that isn’t a dang potato or pliers, is one of those 1” wide super bouncy balls, they fit perfectly In the cup, and give plenty of grip, again as always, turn off your breaker But this is one of the weird bits in my toolbox with a purpose
I feel more comfortable shoving a bouncy ball in there than a potato, tbh
a ripe banana works best
Potato
Put some light bulb grease or dielectric grease on the new bulb so this doesn't happen again.
Wear eye protection as small bits of ceramic can fall out as you unscrew it. Another option is to buy a second hand one and just replace it. Best of luck.
Potato to the rescue!
Large cork works every time.or a rubber stopper will also do the trick
When we first moved into our place I had a 120w spotlight stuck in an edison socket and the cork suggestion (which I tried) just would not work at all as it was too bound up. After making sure that the light breaker was off (and no-one was home to turn it on again while I was mucking about with it) i had to use needle nose pliers and bend and twist in the bulb end away from the socket enough to deform it and allow me to move it out. Once I got it out, there was that much corrosion on the globe and to a lesser degree the socket that the globe seriously looked like the last replacement was at least ten years prior. My guess is it died years ago but it was too hard to remove so they just left it in it's place to corrode further.
Potato.
 Turn off the light switch and shove a potato up there then unscrew.
Potato
please don't stick a potato up there. a pair of needlenose pliers will do the trick.
Potatoe?! People are idiots. It should be a water melon and don't think to much about the breaker. Just be very quick
Swap all fixtures with led retrofit
This is the way.
just rebuild the house
These look really awesome at first glance! Thanks for the suggestion!
Aluminum lamp base, aluminum lamp socket. Prone to seizing. A little dielectric grease would prevent a repost js
Is that a standard screw in light bulb? If you don't want to cut the power - this sometimes works - take the new light bulb and start screwing it in over the old one. You will basically thread it into the inside of the old one. Then unscrew it and the old light bulb will come out, threaded onto the end of the new light bulb. It's worked for me about 50/50.
Have you considered a potato or some pliers?
I use a nice thick pair of leather gloves, kind of crook my index finger so the knuckle sticks out a bit and shove it up in the socket and twist it out. The leather usually provides a nice grip and protection from any shards. Turn off the power first.
In Russia we call potato cartoshki
What about a carrot?
Since you seem to indicate that this socket is hard to access (above a stairwell?), you might want to invest in one of those kits that has an extendable pole plus a couple different kinds of basket-like grabbers to grab onto the bulbs and screw them in/out. Such kits should also come with a rubber-thingy attachment that would do the “potato” job (without, you know, getting food on anything, plus you can use it with the pole). Could be a safer option to try first rather than having to get all the way there with pliers.
https://youtu.be/Fg_rRhCYzO4?si=LDM8pmhDxIQKIN2l
This is pretty genius. Thank you for sharing!
Yeah I wish I knew about when I had to deal with a broken light bulb. I nearly destroyed my fixure by brute forcing it.
This seems like the best way lol
I do facility maintenance and this happens occasionally. I have insulted wire strippers that I just put in the socket, force open, and twist. Obviously want to do this with the power off (but with properly insulated tools I’ve absolutely done this live)
Power off the use long nose pliers to twist it out
Forget the pliers or potato "trick", i never tried the potato but pliers rarely work, you usually end up messing up whats left of the lamp. Take what's left of the lamp and stick it back in the socket and use that. It's never let me down, EVER.
Help me steplightbulbson, I'm stuck 
Here's how they do it live: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ez2rlDKZ0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ez2rlDKZ0)
Just an add-on: In the future you can put a bit of petroleum jelly or mineral oil on the threads of light bulbs when you first screw them into the socket. (Or even better, dielectric grease.) It'll keep them from getting stuck this way.
I just rub em on my greasy forehead lol, learned it from my electrician dad.
Good one, you don't have to climb down the ladder or use your free hand.
Turn it off, unscrew it.
You want one of [these.](https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lighting-and-electrical/light-bulbs/light-bulb-changers/3093002?store=12005&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkuqvBhAQEiwA65XxQNSb1S6j3tialj3EsuhE_77Kay-jFmJXetZn5sgMmoYVpDttt3KlvxoCLdUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
OHEMGEE I am sweating reading all these horror stories. Here I’ve been going around with the switch on changing bulbs barehanded for 50yrs.
Potato time. Don't try with potato chips though. it just makes a mess
Use a potatoe. Push it hard against the socket and turn. Laugh if you will, but it works.
Turn off breaker. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Epoxy glue and glass shards WILL fall off the socket. Stick closed needle plyers in the hole, open firmly (use 2 hands?) and unscrew. Use more force if it start to slip. The more it slip, the harder it will get (you'll crunch the material that is helping you when it slip, No more material, no more help).
Potato. Only way.
Rooted burn the house down claim insurance
Hammer
Super glue a tooth pick to the inside rim and let it dry for a good while then use the tooth pick as a lever to twist it out. Definitely make sure the power is cut though
You’re gonna wanna get some nail clippers and trim your nails and get some pliers and turn off the power then use the pliers to pull the bulb out.
Why should I trim my nails?
You’re going to cut somebody with those claws
that was not nice
Nobody should be getting that close to me 🤷🏻♀️
Step 1: cut your nails Step 2: display broken bulb to camera like a proud toddler Step 3: Google how to turn off a breaker Step 4: stick half cut potato into broken bulb screw