Don’t Be Shocked: Removing a Broken Light Bulb Is Easy With These Simple Tricks

Light bulbs can break in several ways, but regardless of how it happens, it’s never good. Thankfully, light bulbs have improved and have sturdier bases, which make them easier to remove from the socket.

However, if you haven’t switched to LED bulbs and still have some old incandescent or halogen-style bulbs in your home, removing the broken bulb from the socket can be tricky. As frustrating as that can be, there are some simple ways to get the bulb out, and many of the methods involve items you likely already have around the house.

Before you start

Before removing a broken bulb from a light socket, cutting power to the light source is imperative to avoid electrical shock. Simply turning off the switch doesn’t always do the trick. If multiple switches control a light, it can be difficult to tell if the light is off. To ensure the power to the light is off, switch off the power to the light at the breaker.

You will also be working with broken glass, which shatters and splinters very easily, so it’s recommended that you use eye protection and gloves when handling broken light bulbs.

Ways to remove a broken light bulb

1. Pliers

The tried and true method of removing a broken bulb from a socket is with a pair of pliers.

For this method, the more intact the bulb, the better. Begin by cutting power to the light source. If the filament is still intact, use a pair of needle nose pliers to grip the glass base of the filament and gently twist counter-clockwise. There is a chance the base will break free from the threads of the socket and can be fully removed.

There is also a chance of the filament breaking. If this happens, insert the needle nose pliers into the base of the bulb and open them as wide as you can. The tips of the needle nose pliers should be touching opposite sides of the base of the bulb. Hold the pliers open and turn them counter-clockwise and the base of the bulb should begin to unscrew.

For added grip, you can wrap the tips of the pliers with electrical tape.

2. Potato

One of the oldest tricks in the book is to simply use a raw potato.

First, make sure the light switch is turned off. Use gloves, eye protection and a pair of pliers to break away any remaining glass. Cut the potato in half, firmly press it against the socket and begin twisting counter-clockwise. The potato should grip the base of the bulb and turn it while the socket remains still.

Once the base is out, dispose of the bulb and potato.

3. Melted soda bottle

A soda bottle can also be used to extract a broken bulb from a light socket.

Instructables user prabbit22m suggests removing the cap and seal band from the neck of a soda bottle, leaving just the exposed threads. Use a heat source, such a stove or lighter, to melt the tip of the bottle and shape it into a cone.

Once the bottle has cooled, make sure power to the light is off and any remaining glass has been removed from the base of the bulb. Firmly press the bottle into the empty base of the light bulb and twist counter-clockwise while holding the pressure against the socket.

Once removed, dispose of the light bulb base and, optionally, you can keep the bottle for future occurrences.

4. Quick setting epoxy

Sometimes, broken bulbs are in hard-to-reach places. When this is the case, you can also use some quick setting epoxy to remove the light bulb base from the socket.

First, be sure to cut power to the light source and clean any remaining glass from the base. Next, Instructables user SpinningCone suggests mixing up a piece of epoxy putty and packing it into the bulb base. Once packed, press a flat head screwdriver into the epoxy, then remove the screw driver.

After about five minutes have passed, the epoxy will have hardened and you can use the screwdriver to unscrew the base from the socket.

5. Broken bulb extractor

If you want to go the official route, you can find a broken bulb extractor at your local hardware store for around $10.

The premise is effectively the same as all the above methods, as is the way it’s used. First, cut power to the light and safely break away any additional glass. Next, insert the broken bulb extractor into the base of the bulb, grip the handle to expand the tip of the extractor, and turn counter-clockwise.