Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Changing bulb over stairway??

This seems like a silly question, but I'm a bit stuck... and wanted to know what you guys normally do in these situations.

The bulb in the fixture over the staris to my basement went out, and I need to replace it. It's in a big hanging glass globe-type fixture. Problem is, I can't reach the thing. I put a cinder block on a lower stair so a step ladder could go across and still be level, but this seems pretty risky.

Any tips or tricks you guys use to reach fixtures high over a stairway??

p.s. - yes, I bought a LONG life bulb to replace it!

Those adjustable ladders are perfect for these kind of situations. Little Giant is a great ladder, but very expensive, they have similiar knock offs that work just as well. I got a 14 foot Werner adjustable ladder for about $100. Your cinder block idea is creative but very dangerous.

In a situation where I have to use this type of set up only once in a while, I have taken a short piece of ladder hanging around and c-clmamped(2) a piece of 2x4 to the shorter leg on the stairs. That is if you have a wall to lean the ladder against and can still reach the light fixture. JoeA

I use a 16 ft. extension ladder set on a step and leaned against the end wall.

I used the cinder block in a previous life. I promised that I would remember to use wall sconce lighting rather than inaccessible ceiling fixture in stairwells if I ever built a house.

I would set a ladder up in the basement on level ground, and then us a 2x12 from a step to the ladder. If noone was around to hold the 2x12 at the ladder a c clamp would work.

The orange big box has the Gorilla 13" articulating ladder with an extra set of hinges in fiberglas on sale for $149. There are debates upon debates regarding Gorilla versus Little Giant, so I don't want to start another one. It is heavy, but great for electrical since it is fiberglas; solid as a rock; and I bought it just to change a light bulb in a staircase where the bulb was totally out of reach for any normal adaptation we have already discussed. How many carpenters does it take to change a light bulb? Now, only one! And it looks good on my jobsite trailer....nice and orange, with no dirt on it.

If the bulb is exposed, they make bulb changers just for this. It's a small basket on an extendable pole.

Put in a CF bulb, and you won't have to touch it again for many years.