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Home and Garden
Lighting
Light Bulbs
6 Ways to Remove a Broken Light Bulb Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Turn off the breaker or unplug the lamp. 2 Put on gloves and safety goggles. 3 Use needle nose pliers to untwist the bulb. 4 Try a raw potato if pliers didn’t work. 5 Use a wad of duct tape if you have it handy. 6 Try a bar of soap if you don’t mind some cleanup. 7 Use a piece of cork if you have it. 8 Buy a broken bulb extractor as a last resort. 9 Throw the broken bulb in the trash. + Show 6 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: November 15, 2022 Approved
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This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 136,414 times.
Changing a light bulb should be a quick, easy task—but what happens when the bulb breaks inside of the socket? Rather than calling for help, you can quite easily manage to remove the bulb on your own using a few different household items. With a few safety precautions taken into account, you'll be broken-bulb free in no time.
Steps
1
Turn off the breaker or unplug the lamp.
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Keep yourself safe by disconnecting from any power sources. The absolute must-do first step of removing a broken lightbulb is making sure that it is completely disconnected to all power.[1]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview Head to your breaker box, and turn off the corresponding breaker with the room your broken bulb is located in. Or, unplug the lamp that the lightbulb is in.
It’s a good idea to double check that the power is off if you flipped a breaker. Try turning on a light switch or plugging something else in—if the power is truly off, then you’re good to go.
Advertisement 2
Put on gloves and safety goggles.
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Wear PPE to protect your hands and eyes from broken glass. Gardening gloves or rubber gloves will keep your hands protected. If the broken lightbulb is in your ceiling (meaning you’ll be looking up at it), put on some safety goggles to protect your eyes from any broken glass that may rain down on you.[2]XResearch source
3
Use needle nose pliers to untwist the bulb.
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Needle nose pliers can help unscrew a sharp, broken bulb.[3]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview Don’t try to pinch the base or broken glass with the pliers! Instead, insert your pliers into the base of the bulb, then spread the handles open so they catch. Slowly twist the pliers counter-clockwise to unscrew the bulb without touching it.[4]XResearch source
Watch out for any broken glass—if there are any large shards stuck in the base of the bulb, they might fall off at this point.
Needle nose pliers will work even if all the glass has broken off the base of the bulb. Since you’re only twisting the metal base, you don’t necessarily need any broken glass shards to grab onto.
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Try a raw potato if pliers didn’t work.
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A raw potato will collect broken glass without hurting you. Grab a potato and cut it in half, then stick the raw side into the broken light bulb. The jagged edges will stick to the potato, preventing it from cutting you.[5]XResearch source Twist the bulb counter-clockwise to remove it from the socket.[6]X Expert Source Ryaan TuttleHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
You may have to wipe up any potato juice left behind with a clean, dry towel when finished.
If all the glass has broken off the base of the bulb, that’s okay—cut your potato so it fits inside the base of the bulb, then push it in and start turning it counter-clockwise. The starchy potato will catch on the threads of the base and turn it so you can pull it out of the socket.
5
Use a wad of duct tape if you have it handy.
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Sticky duct tape will grab onto a broken bulb fast. Cut a long piece of duct tape, and roll it back on itself to create a sticky wad about the size of your broken light bulb. Stick the wad into the center of the bulb and apply a bit of pressure, and then turn the bulb counterclockwise. Any remaining glass should stick to the tape, all while giving you a bit of leverage.
You can also use duct tape to clean up any small glass pieces that might have fallen on the floor.[7]X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection AgencyIndependent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
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Try a bar of soap if you don’t mind some cleanup.
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A bar of soap will quickly latch onto a broken bulb. Simply push the soap up into the broken bulb; the glass will harmlessly become stuck in the soap, and the soap will give you a means to twist the base. Spin the soap counter-clockwise to remove it from the socket. You may need to wipe off any soap residue that remains after taking out the glass.[8]XResearch source
7
Use a piece of cork if you have it.
Download Article
Cork will latch onto a broken bulb to unscrew it safely. Hold the cork up to the bulb and apply pressure so that the rough edges of the bulb stick to the cork. Then, simply remove the bulb as you normally would by twisting the cork in a counter-clockwise direction until the bulb pops out.
Advertisement 8
Buy a broken bulb extractor as a last resort.
Download Article
Broken bulb extractors are special tools that remove bulbs. Buy a broken bulb extractor, then insert the rubber tip into the socket. Twist the tool counter-clockwise to catch the threads of the broken bulb and unscrew it.[9]XResearch source
Broken bulb extractors usually come in 2 different sizes, so you can find the right size for your socket.
9
Throw the broken bulb in the trash.
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Be sure to dispose of your broken bulb once you’re done. Keep your gloves on and remove the broken bulb from your tool of choice, then chuck it in the garbage. Be sure to vacuum up any tiny bits of glass to keep yourself safe.[10]X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection AgencyIndependent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source
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Question What do I do if the glass from the bulb is hanging or dangling? How do I remove it to untwist the part stuck in the socket? Hannah Madden Community Answer If there is glass dangling from the base, put on thick rubber gloves and carefully break the hanging glass off the base of the bulb. Throw the glass in the garbage to free up the base, then use pliers, a potato, or any other DIY method to untwist the base from the socket. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6
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References
↑ Ryaan Tuttle. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Ryaan Tuttle Home Improvement Specialist This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. This article has been viewed 136,414 times. 9 votes - 89% Co-authors: 11Updated: November 15, 2022 Views: 136,414 Categories: Light BulbsArticle SummaryX
To remove a broken light bulb, start by turning off the power breaker that corresponds to the room that your broken bulb is in. Next, try using needle-nose pliers to twist the metal part of the bulb in a counterclockwise motion to release the broken bulb. Alternatively, cut a long piece of duct tape, roll it back on itself to create a sticky wad, and stick it into the center of the bulb. Then, turn the duct tape counterclockwise as you release the broken bulb. You can also try putting a dry bar of soap into the broken bulb, spinning it counterclockwise, and releasing the bulb. To learn how to use a potato to release a broken light bulb from the socket, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Debby Malone
Mar 16, 2017
"It was extremely helpful that there were different methods on how to remove the broken bulb. The needle nose pliers didn't work. I then tried the cork method, and within seconds it was removed! Thank you!"..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Ryaan Tuttle Home Improvement Specialist Co-authors: 11Updated: November 15, 2022 Views: 136,41489% of readers found this article helpful. 9 votes - 89% Click a star to add your vote
Debby Malone
Mar 16, 2017
"It was extremely helpful that there were different methods on how to remove the broken bulb. The needle nose pliers didn't work. I then tried the cork method, and within seconds it was removed! Thank you!"..." more
A. Swanson
Jan 7, 2017
"Broken light bulb for the light under the microwave (above the stove). Looked online and used the cork idea to get the problem fixed! Thank you!"..." more
Mary Ann Ziegler
Mar 21, 2021
"It worked! I used duct tape and pliers with gardening gloves. Thank you for empowering me." Rated this article:
Jenifer S.
Oct 4, 2017
"This gave me several courses of action to take to safely remove the broken bulb." Rated this article:
Sherry Jensen
Jul 26, 2017
"Night light broke; the cork fit perfect to remove the metal stem." Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Turn off the breaker or unplug the lamp. 2 Put on gloves and safety goggles. 3 Use needle nose pliers to untwist the bulb. 4 Try a raw potato if pliers didn’t work. 5 Use a wad of duct tape if you have it handy. 6 Try a bar of soap if you don’t mind some cleanup. 7 Use a piece of cork if you have it. 8 Buy a broken bulb extractor as a last resort. 9 Throw the broken bulb in the trash. + Show 6 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and Hannah Madden 
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Co-authored by: Ryaan Tuttle Home Improvement Specialist This article was co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses. This article has been viewed 136,414 times. 9 votes - 89% Co-authors: 11 Updated: November 15, 2022 Views: 136,414 Categories: Light Bulbs Article SummaryX
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Keep yourself safe by disconnecting from any power sources. The absolute must-do first step of removing a broken lightbulb is making sure that it is completely disconnected to all power.[1] Head to your breaker box, and turn off the corresponding breaker with the room your broken bulb is located in. Or, unplug the lamp that the lightbulb is in. 
Wear PPE to protect your hands and eyes from broken glass. Gardening gloves or rubber gloves will keep your hands protected. If the broken lightbulb is in your ceiling (meaning you’ll be looking up at it), put on some safety goggles to protect your eyes from any broken glass that may rain down on you.[2] 
Needle nose pliers can help unscrew a sharp, broken bulb.[3] Don’t try to pinch the base or broken glass with the pliers! Instead, insert your pliers into the base of the bulb, then spread the handles open so they catch. Slowly twist the pliers counter-clockwise to unscrew the bulb without touching it.[4] 
A raw potato will collect broken glass without hurting you. Grab a potato and cut it in half, then stick the raw side into the broken light bulb. The jagged edges will stick to the potato, preventing it from cutting you.[5] Twist the bulb counter-clockwise to remove it from the socket.[6] 
Sticky duct tape will grab onto a broken bulb fast. Cut a long piece of duct tape, and roll it back on itself to create a sticky wad about the size of your broken light bulb. Stick the wad into the center of the bulb and apply a bit of pressure, and then turn the bulb counterclockwise. Any remaining glass should stick to the tape, all while giving you a bit of leverage. 
A bar of soap will quickly latch onto a broken bulb. Simply push the soap up into the broken bulb; the glass will harmlessly become stuck in the soap, and the soap will give you a means to twist the base. Spin the soap counter-clockwise to remove it from the socket. You may need to wipe off any soap residue that remains after taking out the glass.[8] 
Cork will latch onto a broken bulb to unscrew it safely. Hold the cork up to the bulb and apply pressure so that the rough edges of the bulb stick to the cork. Then, simply remove the bulb as you normally would by twisting the cork in a counter-clockwise direction until the bulb pops out. Advertisement 
Broken bulb extractors are special tools that remove bulbs. Buy a broken bulb extractor, then insert the rubber tip into the socket. Twist the tool counter-clockwise to catch the threads of the broken bulb and unscrew it.[9] 
Be sure to dispose of your broken bulb once you’re done. Keep your gloves on and remove the broken bulb from your tool of choice, then chuck it in the garbage. Be sure to vacuum up any tiny bits of glass to keep yourself safe.[10] Advertisement 
Hannah Madden Community Answer If there is glass dangling from the base, put on thick rubber gloves and carefully break the hanging glass off the base of the bulb. Throw the glass in the garbage to free up the base, then use pliers, a potato, or any other DIY method to untwist the base from the socket. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.