October 17, 2026

Hello Neighbor!

Last week my porch light bulb would not budge when I went to change it, no matter how hard I turned it.

My sister-in-law Carol, who lives two doors down, came over and reminded me of a trick her dad always used: a thin coat of Vaseline on the threads before screwing in a new bulb.

I did every bulb in the house that same afternoon. As for the stuck lightbulb finally got it after a lot of wiggling and tapping.

Be Well,
Anisa

Please add anisa@gophercentral.com to your address book or visit here.

Photo: Anisa on her front porch, dabbing a thin coat of Vaseline onto the metal threads of a light bulb before screwing it into the fixture.

Rub Vaseline On Light Bulbs Before You Screw Them In

A thin layer of petroleum jelly on a bulb's metal threads keeps heat and moisture from corroding it in place, so the next time it needs changing, it twists right out.

How To Do It

1. Make sure the fixture is off and the bulb and socket are completely cool.
2. Dab a small amount of Vaseline onto a cotton swab or your fingertip.
3. Rub a thin coat along the metal threads of the bulb only, not the glass or the socket itself.
4. Screw the bulb in as usual, the thin layer keeps it from fusing to the socket over time.

More Ways To Use It

• The same trick keeps garden hose connections and shower rod ends from sticking too.
• A dab on a squeaky hinge will quiet it until you get real oil on hand.

Got a handy tip of your own? Reply back to me, I love reading your emails!