How to remove broken lightbulb?  

Well you have done the most important thing and that is turn the breaker off. If this is lamp, then it sounds like the lamp itself is broken in some way and should be repaired or tossed. If it is some kind of wall fixture and where the bulb screws in is loose then that may need repair. You could try a strap type wrench to hold the fixture and then try your needle nose plairs but I think you may need something a little heavier than needle nose and that will expand with some gripping or that will let you grab the edge of the bulb if any is sticking up.

Hi there Bree,

I'm so sorry to hear about your predicament! Isn't life fun? I am so sorry to take such amusement from your situation but as I was reading your posting I was going to suggest using a potato as well, only to discover that instead of giving your light bulb out of the socket you've made hash browns for breakfast!

I am so sorry that I do not have a suggestion to help you but I want to thank you for giving me a little chuckle for the day... And again, look on the bright side you now have fresh hash browns!

Happy Mylotting.

I've tried the potato thing without good results, too. What has worked for me is the needlenose pliers. I'm glad you've turned off the power!! You may also want to wear goggles or eye protection if you're looking up and anything falls.

You may be able to work the pliers on both sides of the broken bulb (I've done this) and turn.

Heeheeheeheee! Hashbrowns! That is too funny! The only time that happened to me i grabbed pliers and ended up bending the base piece all to heck. Eventually it just kind of, er, sort of fell out!

I've pried them out with needle nose pliers before. It wasn't too hard. Just be careful now, don't cut yourself!

I don't know if you can picture what I suggest but I would like to try to suggest so here it is:

1. Ask somebody to HOLD the Fixture socket in place.
2. Get a screw driver (the flat one)and set its tip onto one side of the broken bulb base.
3. Slowly tap the bottom of the screw driver with a small hammer or something allowing the tip of the screw driver to rotate the broken bulb base. Make sure the direction of the broken bulb base will go counter clockwise (Please check in what direction the light bulb will loosen - normally it is counter clockwise).
4. Hope to get the broken bulb base slowly rotate and loosen up.
5. Eat the hashbrowns

I hope it works for you as it worked for me.

Usually the potato works. Are you using a raw potato? Did you cut it in half? Moreover if you are trying to get it out and the socket is moving round and round it may indicate you need to replace to whole socket. It could be dangerous to keep it in there with such a loose socket. Cheers!

Pablo

I sure hope when you eat those floor hashbrowns they don't have any glass in them!!! :) Good to hear you got it all taken care of, however. Luckily, I've never had to remove a broken lightbulb... yet.

What a shame your potato trick didn't work. I think that was a stroke of genius. The only thing I can suggest is a thick, padded gardening glove. Not sure if you have enough of anything to grab onto but, at least you would be unlikely to cut your hand.

so you are caught in a very problematic situation, breepeace.

i will try to move it around using pliers at first. if this will not work, i will find some fillers which i will make the pliers to bite and make it fill in the broken bulb then move it around using the pliers. this will usually do the trick.

another method i have tried is to use to small pliers. each one bites at the opposite sides of the remains of the broken bulb. then i will twist it around at the same time.

good luck.