The next time you change a light bulb and the darn thing breaks off in your hand…  have no fear, just keep a potato near.  Here’s how you get that bulb base unstuck:

1. Make sure the power is OFF.  If the socket is on a dimmer double check to make sure the power is off and not just dim.  OFF. OFF. OFF
2. Place a towel on the ground to catch any broken glass that may fall.
3. Use gloves to make sure no glass or the broken bulb base cuts you.
4. Eye glasses/goggles also help to assure no glass gets in your eyes.
5. Cut a small potato in half and wedge/twist the potato onto the broken light bulb base.
6. Gently turn the potato counter clockwise and watch your broken bulb come out of the socket with ease.

If you don’t have a potato, shame on you.  Now you have to break out your tool box and grab some pliers.

1. Follow steps 1-4 above:  Power off, towel, gloves and glasses.
2. Using both hands, insert the pliers as far into the broken base as you can.
3. Spread the handles apart, exerting force against the sides of the bulb base with the tips of the pliers, and rotate the pliers counter-clockwise.
4. Continue turning until the base is out.

I Dare You To Be Domestic!