Great comment from a great person! Thanks for your continued support. We will try and come up with some other great “life hacks” for you in the future!
I couldn't find a bunch of rubber bands, so I grabbed a rubber dishwashing glove and wrapped that around the handle of a screwdriver and that worked perfectly. Thanks for the tip!
I know you posted this nearly two years ago, but I just had a light bulb break off in a lamp that I couldn't even get a potato into. And your video was first up, so I watched it. I found a small handle from my dad's back scratcher that I took apart to use the handle and I just recently had another project where I had a bunch of spare rubber bands leftover that I saved and Wow it worked. Thanks for your help. Seriously!!
I adapted your technique to use on a broken under-cabinet microwave light - 4 inches of dowel rod plus rubber bands. There was no room for any other tool/technique. It worked brilliantly! You #1 GI.
THANKS ROSS! Worked perfectly! I did have to use the rubber band on the broken bulb to unscrew the socket out as nothing else would fit in between the wall and the lighting area on the microwave. But the hardest challenges were 1) coming up with that idea and then 2) figuring out which way was "lefty loosey"! But I got it out! Thank you so much!
I am 73 and all my entryway outdoor lights went out a few years ago and because handymen want a fortune to come out, I just let it go. Then I realized I could change the lights using a pole and a bulb attachment. I was able to change 4 bulbs and of course one got stuck and broke off. What to do now; then, I found this video and your plan worked like a charm. Now my all my lights work once again. Remember folks when you buy outdoor lights make sure they open in the bottom so you can easily change the light bulbs. Thank you so much..
Thank you for your video being short and to the point! I used a rubber band wrapped around the handle of a small kitchen tool to remove the small base from the light over the range. The base was in really bad shape. The previous homeowner must have been cooking in the dark for years!
What a great idea! I have one broken off and was going to use a potato, but decided to check out TH-cam to see if there was another way, so thankful I did! I appreciate you putting this video out for people like me :-)
You just saved me hundreds of dollars. The light under my over-the-range microwave burnt out and when I removed it only the bulb came out - the base remained. Because the microwave is bolted to the wall the light bult base is located about 2 inches out from the wall facing away from me. I called the company that installed the unit and they wanted $100 just to come and look at it and then, possibly, up to $200 to uninstall the microwave, remove the light bulb base, replace it and re-install the microwave. Instead I broke a pencil to 2 inches in length, wrapped rubber bands around it, got my hand up into the 2 inch gap and was able to unscrew the base and replace the light bulb. Thank you so much!!
Hey- this tip led to another solution for smaller bulbs in tight spaces. After watching your video, I tried using black tape on a sharpie, but the angle would not allow it. This led to my carving a wine cork down on one end. This worked great in a small space. No tape or rubber bands needed!
Woot! Had bulb break off for the stove, basically the underside of the microwave. Very hard to get to! Pencil size did the trick! Thanks so much for sharing this trick!
i was scared to try to remove the broken light in my kitchen and the first thing i did was go to youtube and type in "how to remove a broken blub" and your video was first and it worked, thanks!!!
Thanks for posting this. It saved me from removing 24 glass panels from a kitchen chandelier so that I could tip it up and see to possibly crimp in the socket with needle nosed pliers and try to unscrew it. I used a pencil wrapped in rubber bands and it worked perfectly.
The metal part of rhe big light bulb over my kitchen sink needs this. Even standing on the counter i can barely reach it when it has a bulb. I'll be trying your method! Thank you 💝
The rubber bands didnt work for me so I compromised and used your broom concept with gorilla tape: the final wraps around the handle had the sticky side out. Thankyou for your very helpful youtube clip!❤
Great video. I tried the rubber band on the end of a wooden swizzle stick ro remove a broken stove bulb after unplugging everything of course, and it worked 💪. Thank you so much for the knowledge.
Thank you so much. I had an under counter Whirlpool microwave bulb explode leaving bulb head in socket. I had no room for broom handle. I adapted your rubber-band trick to a small wrench and socket. Success!
Thank you. I found 5 other videos before yours that didn't work for me. This one did. My bulb has corroded in the light fixture so it was very messy, but a prior video prepared me for that part!
Share with your friends... ha. It is strange. Some of our videos have 200,000 views... others... don’t take off. It’s ok we are in it to help people . This is not a get rich or retirement game 😀
Great teaching video. Thank you so much Sir! I used the smaller socket method with the pencil. Worked Perfect. Yees!! Never would have guessed this ever! Also thank you for the reminder to cut off the power! Haha!!
OMG Life Saver! I always been a DYIer BUT this blew me away when it worked on 2 broken small E17 bases stuck in sockets of a microwave using a pencil. Thank You!
Me too! The guy at the hardware store even suggested using a potato. I had shown him the picture of the microwave pockets, and I asked him how would I get a potato in there! He suggested I call the company to remove it. I’m so glad I found this post!
Oh wow thank you! I’m getting ready to sell my house and threw away every stray rubber band already, but some athletic wrap taped over the the end of a screwdriver worked for the little light under my microwave. Lifesaver.
YES!!! This just worked for my tiny Microwave light... impossible to see it straight on because its underneath and facing the wall... HUGE hack. Worked perfectly w/ a magic marker cap. BOOM thank u!
@SkyManagement yeah, however it's at a weird angle, ceiling light box over stove...haven't tried it yet but i'll keep you posted, might have to go w/that putty stuff as there's no filiment at all, just the screw end. thanks for responding tho...nice to feel like someone cares. someone that knows how to do it right!
Worked great! I had a light bulb break in my microwave over the stove. Cut down a pencil and used a rubber band wrapped around it. Unscrewed the base right out of that awkwardly tight spot!
Most excellent. Used that idea removing the bulb part out of my oven.. Only thing is, I didn't have any rubber bands. My wife's hair ties wrapped on it did well.
Great solution. Until I realized I didn't have any rubber bands. I went to look anyway. What do ya know? I found some in my tool cabinet. Ha! This worked perfect.
Thanks so much. I have the candelabra bulbs broken off outside, and it's hard to reach anyway, so I will try the pencil method. There are three close together in the fixture so I couldn't see how a potato would work. Blessings.
Thank you so much! My flood light broke off up in the mechanism and I was wondering how to get it out without electrocuting myself! HA! Thanks. I'll try this method!!!
My broken bulb was on a back porch light and a short reach so I used a wooden dowel and rubber bands and it was out in a matter of minutes. Thanks for the tip.😊😊😊
Any recommendations for when there's still the glass thing in the middle attached to the base? My light bulb broke off in such a weird way & I'm struggling to get it removed
Kill power and use needle nose pliers if you have them. Wear safety glasses so you don’t get an eye full of glass. Should be able to grab it and turn but make sure power is off or you will get a shock!
Ok, I am trying this with a microwave lightbulb. Too small for broom stick and too big for pencil. Trying to figure out size. Also the pliers did not work well mangled the bulb part and cracked casing. Is this safe or do I need to replace casing now?
Not sure what casing you are referring. If it is any part of the bulb itself (like the base of the bulb) then just grab it with needle nose pliers and turn it if the bulb is broken. If it is just the plastic housing around the socket itself I would not be too concerned . Make sure microwave is unplugged of course and you can stick if bulb is broken off and just the base is stuck stick a flat head screwdriver in there and turn counter clockwise.
Another Great way!! I just watched one using electrical tape, sticky part facing outboard. I'm removing to ceiling fan light bases 2morro. Let you know how it turns out.
Electrical tape should work… once… but when the sticky wears off I am not sure how effective it will remain. This way continues to work for us let us know what you find
Holy crap you’re a lifesaver! So I didn’t have any rubber bands and I was too impatient to wait…. So I wrapped some boob tape around a pencil lol you need some of the sticky side out but it worked like a charm!
If someone (not you) bent the metal part of the socket, not the bulb that was broken off…. Then you will probably have to replace the socket. If it’s bent too bad it could be dangerous to try to put a bulb back in there. :-/
I have this issue, however I'm unsure what to do. Im not sure how to tell if the power is truly off to that socket aside from flipping the switch. My breaker box has unfortunately proven to be mislabeled from the previous home owners. So the one labeled for that socket may not actually truly be for that socket. How could I go about resolving this? Is it safe to do with just the wall switch flipped in the off position?
Great video. Simple, safe solution to a common problem, presented by someone who knows of what he speaks!
Great comment from a great person! Thanks for your continued support. We will try and come up with some other great “life hacks” for you in the future!
You, sir, are a life saver. You saved this 66 year old single woman a lot of money. Your technique worked perfectly! Thank you.
I hear 66 is the new 40! Glad we could help!
Yep! He saved me a lot of time and money too!
I am 70 & it helped me, too!! Tired of waiting on husband!😊
I couldn't find a bunch of rubber bands, so I grabbed a rubber dishwashing glove and wrapped that around the handle of a screwdriver and that worked perfectly. Thanks for the tip!
I know you posted this nearly two years ago, but I just had a light bulb break off in a lamp that I couldn't even get a potato into. And your video was first up, so I watched it. I found a small handle from my dad's back scratcher that I took apart to use the handle and I just recently had another project where I had a bunch of spare rubber bands leftover that I saved and Wow it worked. Thanks for your help. Seriously!!
I adapted your technique to use on a broken under-cabinet microwave light - 4 inches of dowel rod plus rubber bands. There was no room for any other tool/technique. It worked brilliantly! You #1 GI.
Excellent! I’m glad it worked for you :)
Those microwave bulbs seem to always break off when they burn out. 🤷🏼♂️
And that's why I'm here...off to the rubber band store !!
Same! Just fixed a broken microwave light with a sharpie and rubber bands!!!
That is my problem exactly. Thanks for all of the wonderful suggestions.
THANKS ROSS! Worked perfectly! I did have to use the rubber band on the broken bulb to unscrew the socket out as nothing else would fit in between the wall and the lighting area on the microwave. But the hardest challenges were 1) coming up with that idea and then 2) figuring out which way was "lefty loosey"! But I got it out! Thank you so much!
3 years after you posted this video, it’s still relevant! I subscribed for this alone. Thank you!!!
woriked for me too didnt even need the
rubber bands
I am 73 and all my entryway outdoor lights went out a few years ago and because handymen want a fortune to come out, I just let it go. Then I realized I could change the lights using a pole and a bulb attachment. I was able to change 4 bulbs and of course one got stuck and broke off. What to do now; then, I found this video and your plan worked like a charm. Now my all my lights work once again. Remember folks when you buy outdoor lights make sure they open in the bottom so you can easily change the light bulbs. Thank you so much..
Thank you for your video being short and to the point! I used a rubber band wrapped around the handle of a small kitchen tool to remove the small base from the light over the range. The base was in really bad shape. The previous homeowner must have been cooking in the dark for years!
No problem :) we love to hear the success stories!
Thanks for this rubber band tip! It took me less than a minute to remove the bulb socket from an outdoor landscaping light!
No problem! Glad we could help :)
What a great idea! I have one broken off and was going to use a potato, but decided to check out TH-cam to see if there was another way, so thankful I did! I appreciate you putting this video out for people like me :-)
One of the best tips ever in the internet! Thanks was able to remove socket 25ft in the air!
You just saved me hundreds of dollars. The light under my over-the-range microwave burnt out and when I removed it only the bulb came out - the base remained. Because the microwave is bolted to the wall the light bult base is located about 2 inches out from the wall facing away from me. I called the company that installed the unit and they wanted $100 just to come and look at it and then, possibly, up to $200 to uninstall the microwave, remove the light bulb base, replace it and re-install the microwave. Instead I broke a pencil to 2 inches in length, wrapped rubber bands around it, got my hand up into the 2 inch gap and was able to unscrew the base and replace the light bulb. Thank you so much!!
This is why we are here… to help people like you! There is no need to waste money 💰 glad we could help!
Hey- this tip led to another solution for smaller bulbs in tight spaces. After watching your video, I tried using black tape on a sharpie, but the angle would not allow it. This led to my carving a wine cork down on one end. This worked great in a small space. No tape or rubber bands needed!
What a great tip! This worked so well. So glad I saw your video and didn’t hire someone to do this. Thank you.
Woot! Had bulb break off for the stove, basically the underside of the microwave. Very hard to get to! Pencil size did the trick! Thanks so much for sharing this trick!
i was scared to try to remove the broken light in my kitchen and the first thing i did was go to youtube and type in "how to remove a broken blub" and your video was first and it worked, thanks!!!
I knew I had been keeping rubber bands for a reason. This worked perfectly. Thank you so much!
Thanks for posting this. It saved me from removing 24 glass panels from a kitchen chandelier so that I could tip it up and see to possibly crimp in the socket with needle nosed pliers and try to unscrew it. I used a pencil wrapped in rubber bands and it worked perfectly.
Excellent! glad we could help :) thanks for supporting our channel!!
Thanks Ross for your suggestion. Stumbled upon your video, and your method worked beautifully on my 12 ft ceiling! Thank you!!
Absolute genius!! I didn’t even need a ladder. Thank you!!🙏🏼
The metal part of rhe big light bulb over my kitchen sink needs this. Even standing on the counter i can barely reach it when it has a bulb. I'll be trying your method! Thank you 💝
After several months with no light, I got those suckers out! Thanks! I see the light!
Another satisfied customer. And it didn’t cost you a thing! Glad we could help
Thank YOU!!! I tried it and it worked! It was cheap, efficient and simple. You are a genius!
The rubber bands didnt work for me so I compromised and used your broom concept with gorilla tape: the final wraps around the handle had the sticky side out. Thankyou for your very helpful youtube clip!❤
Used the rubber end of a hammer. Was a perfect fit and out in 5 seconds. Thanks for the tip!!!
Fantastic! Simple and free!! Thank you! You're the MAN!!🙂 Now I have to go and do all three of my light bulbs in my dining room ceiling fan!!
Awesome! Glad we could help :)
Great video. I tried the rubber band on the end of a wooden swizzle stick ro remove a broken stove bulb after unplugging everything of course, and it worked 💪. Thank you so much for the knowledge.
Thank you so much. I had an under counter Whirlpool microwave bulb explode leaving bulb head in socket. I had no room for broom handle. I adapted your rubber-band trick to a small wrench and socket. Success!
Thank you. I found 5 other videos before yours that didn't work for me. This one did. My bulb has corroded in the light fixture so it was very messy, but a prior video prepared me for that part!
Lifesaver! I subscribed because of this video. I need straight, simple home maintenance ideas. Thank You!
Excellent. I had an oven light that broke off and I had a piece of 1/2" PVC and tied rubber bands around it. Came out without an issue. Thanks
How do you not have more likes! The method is so easy you can't make the video any longer. Nice.
Share with your friends... ha. It is strange. Some of our videos have 200,000 views... others... don’t take off. It’s ok we are in it to help people . This is not a get rich or retirement game 😀
Omg I found this ridiculously HELPFUL!! Why I was having to do this was still a mystery but I got it done!
You helped me again with the pencil end and rubber band for the smaller bulb base! Thanks to your rescue ❤😊
Thank you!!! I tried all the recommendations from other videos and google and yours was the only thing that worked and it was so quick!!
Awesome! Glad we could help :)
Great teaching video. Thank you so much Sir! I used the smaller socket method with the pencil. Worked Perfect. Yees!! Never would have guessed this ever! Also thank you for the reminder to cut off the power! Haha!!
Well, I didn’t find any rubber bands, but I had some rubber gloves instead… and it worked!! 😃
Thanks a lot bud, you’re a big help 😊👍🏼
Just used a rubber band and the end of a makeup brush to unscrew the broken bulb of my hob. Worked like a charm, thank you 🎉
OMG Life Saver! I always been a DYIer BUT this blew me away when it worked on 2 broken small E17 bases stuck in sockets of a microwave using a pencil. Thank You!
Me too! The guy at the hardware store even suggested using a potato. I had shown him the picture of the microwave pockets, and I asked him how would I get a potato in there! He suggested I call the company to remove it. I’m so glad I found this post!
Oh wow thank you! I’m getting ready to sell my house and threw away every stray rubber band already, but some athletic wrap taped over the the end of a screwdriver worked for the little light under my microwave. Lifesaver.
Lifesaver. My wife thought I was nuts. But it did the trick.
I tried everything to get a very stubborn bulb base out but nothing worked. Tried this method and it came out in seconds! Thank you!
YES!!! This just worked for my tiny Microwave light... impossible to see it straight on because its underneath and facing the wall... HUGE hack. Worked perfectly w/ a magic marker cap. BOOM thank u!
Thanks so much for the tips. Got my bulb base out perfectly!
Rubber band on a pencil worked magic for the small bulbs. Thank you!!
Boss what a brilliant idea. It just saves me $25 from amazon. Pencil with rubber bands.
Glad we could help! Thanks for watching
I'm alone and have nobody to help me out ... Plus, i don't have pliers ! This genius trick did the job ! Thank you so much 😍
Glad we could help!
You can get some cheap basic tools at dollar tree.
THIS has helped, my short self, SO much! Thanks!😊
Dude you are a genius! I made it...
Works perfectly! Fortunately I found 3 rubber bands... Thank you for this video.
Thank you! I was going to use a potato, but I’m glad I found this video. You made my day!
This hack worked when nothing else was working. Thank you!
wow, love the broom handle/rubber band idea for a ceiling light! i'll let you know how it turns out, fingers crossed!
It works great!
@SkyManagement yeah, however it's at a weird angle, ceiling light box over stove...haven't tried it yet but i'll keep you posted, might have to go w/that putty stuff as there's no filiment at all, just the screw end. thanks for responding tho...nice to feel like someone cares. someone that knows how to do it right!
Yeah it’s 6/24/24. I needed this info! Thanks! From Milwaukee WI
Worked great! I had a light bulb break in my microwave over the stove. Cut down a pencil and used a rubber band wrapped around it. Unscrewed the base right out of that awkwardly tight spot!
Thank you!! This was much easier than I thought it would be!
WOW!!! Amazing idea!!! Worked flawlessly…. Thanks for sharing!!!
no problem, glad we could help!
Yesss! This was a genius tip. Thank you so much! I was super stressed. 😩 Now tell me how to replace my other light I’ve got issues with. 😁
Fantastic. What a headache-reliever. If broomstick too thick, use the screw-on end of an extendable pole.
Most excellent. Used that idea removing the bulb part out of my oven.. Only thing is, I didn't have any rubber bands. My wife's hair ties wrapped on it did well.
THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!
Thank you so much for the information! It saved me money to go buy a inside plier. This worked great for my pantry light bulb that burned out!!!
Glad we could help! Thank you for supporting our channel 😄
Rubber band on broom handle-thank u! Worked like a charm😅
That’s wonderful, thank you!
The man! Great stuff right here.
Thanks a million!❤
Excellent! Simple and effective.
THANK YOU! IT WORKED! ANOTHER 67-YEAR OLD WOMAN MANAGED TO DO IT! :D
I just did it! Worked like a champ.
Great solution. Until I realized I didn't have any rubber bands. I went to look anyway. What do ya know? I found some in my tool cabinet. Ha! This worked perfect.
Thanks so much. I have the candelabra bulbs broken off outside, and it's hard to reach anyway, so I will try the pencil method. There are three close together in the fixture so I couldn't see how a potato would work. Blessings.
Thank you! Rubber band around the pencil worked great!
Glad it helped!
Great idea that I'm going to try as soon as I find/get a few more rubber bands. Thanks because the needle nose pliers trick I tried didn't work.
I hope this way works! Thanks for supporting our channel :)
Thank you!! I used the pencil and rubber band for a decorative bulb. Came right out
Thanks for the help. I didn't use it the exact way you recommended, but it did give me some ideas.
Fantastic, worked perfectly. Thanks
Worked like a charm! I had the bulb out on the first try..
Glad it helped
Thank you so much! My flood light broke off up in the mechanism and I was wondering how to get it out without electrocuting myself! HA! Thanks. I'll try this method!!!
Worked like a charm, thank you for posting!😃
It worked with my chandelier bulb. Rubber hands and a pencil. Thank you.
This was great! Worked like a charm! Thanks
My broken bulb was on a back porch light and a short reach so I used a wooden dowel and rubber bands and it was out in a matter of minutes. Thanks for the tip.😊😊😊
Thank you for the quick and detailed video. I just tried this technique, worked perfectly!
Glad we could help!
Any recommendations for when there's still the glass thing in the middle attached to the base? My light bulb broke off in such a weird way & I'm struggling to get it removed
Kill power and use needle nose pliers if you have them. Wear safety glasses so you don’t get an eye full of glass. Should be able to grab it and turn but make sure power is off or you will get a shock!
@@SkyManagement Thank u so mch for takin the time to reply back w/such an helpful tip! 🙂
I had to break off the parts that were still stuck in there. Protect your eyes.
Ok, I am trying this with a microwave lightbulb. Too small for broom stick and too big for pencil. Trying to figure out size. Also the pliers did not work well mangled the bulb part and cracked casing. Is this safe or do I need to replace casing now?
Not sure what casing you are referring. If it is any part of the bulb itself (like the base of the bulb) then just grab it with needle nose pliers and turn it if the bulb is broken.
If it is just the plastic housing around the socket itself I would not be too concerned . Make sure microwave is unplugged of course and you can stick if bulb is broken off and just the base is stuck stick a flat head screwdriver in there and turn counter clockwise.
Just tried it and it worked like a charm
Worked beautifully, didn't have to waste a potato, thanks for the tip.
This worked! Thank you so much! You saved me money!
Worked like a charm 👌🏻
Great technique. I tried this and it worked perfectly.
Great! Thanks for supporting our channel:)
Super awesome - didn't have rubber bands, but rubber cabinet liner works as well
Nice. Haven’t tried that. Glad you found out video helpful. Thanks for supporting our channel :)
Another Great way!! I just watched one using electrical tape, sticky part facing outboard. I'm removing to ceiling fan light bases 2morro. Let you know how it turns out.
Electrical tape should work… once… but when the sticky wears off I am not sure how effective it will remain. This way continues to work for us let us know what you find
@@SkyManagement Sure will, I have 2 to remove. I'll try both methods & let you know. Both methods sound alot easier than using Needle Nose pliers.
@@SkyManagement I tried both methods. Didn't work for me. Ended up using Needle Nose pliers. Guess I need more practice. Lol
Genius!!! Worked great for microwave lightbulb.
Holy crap you’re a lifesaver! So I didn’t have any rubber bands and I was too impatient to wait…. So I wrapped some boob tape around a pencil lol you need some of the sticky side out but it worked like a charm!
This worked and it’s a safe way! Thanks a whole bunch! Problem solved!
Glad it helped!
thank you so much! it works!
You are awesome! Thank you! And I didn’t want to use a potato. It worked perfectly.
No problem! Glad we could help :)
So what would you suggest if someone (not me of course) went in with pliers first and bent the hell out of the metal?
If someone (not you) bent the metal part of the socket, not the bulb that was broken off…. Then you will probably have to replace the socket. If it’s bent too bad it could be dangerous to try to put a bulb back in there. :-/
I have this issue, however I'm unsure what to do. Im not sure how to tell if the power is truly off to that socket aside from flipping the switch. My breaker box has unfortunately proven to be mislabeled from the previous home owners. So the one labeled for that socket may not actually truly be for that socket. How could I go about resolving this? Is it safe to do with just the wall switch flipped in the off position?