There's a bevy of tricks (a hat trick of tricks, really) known to release a stuck light bulb from its socket—you can try the water bottle, potato or duct tape method to get a stubborn bulb out. But if you're finding that the same socket is always to blame (maybe a rusty outdoor light fixture?), an ounce of slippery prevention is worth a pound of that raw potato cure.

Stubborn light bulbs are a pain. Even though there are methods for unscrewing a stuck bulb without breaking it, you could save yourself from shelling out money on duct tape or potatoes if you know which sockets get stuck most.

Outdoor light sockets can become frequently corroded thanks to exposure to the elements, but you can use this helpful tip from a This Old House reader for preventing light bulbs from becoming stuck in their sockets anywhere there's a sticky socket around the house.

The next time you replace a light bulb, rub a bit of Vaseline or another brand of petroleum jelly over the light bulb's threads before you screw it in. It'll prevent the bulb from getting stuck and save you from broken bulbs.

Anybody else have easy tips for preventing household tech ailments? Tell us in the comments!

via This Old House

(Images: Flickr member mtsofan licensed for use under Creative Commons, Flickr member leahrobinnapier licensed for use under Creative Commons)