Quck answer
To retrieve items flushed down toilets, follow these steps:
1. Turn off the water supply to the toilet to prevent further flushing.
2. Put on gloves and use a plunger to try and dislodge the item by creating suction.
3. If the item is still stuck, use a toilet auger to reach and grab it.
4. If the above methods fail, remove the toilet bowl to access the plumbing and retrieve the item from there.
5. Once the item is retrieved, flush the toilet several times to ensure proper functioning.
6. Consider installing a toilet strainer or educating household members to prevent future items from being flushed.
Remember to exercise caution and, if unsure, consult a professional plumber for assistance.
It may not happen often, but if you find yourself needing to retrieve something flushed down a toilet, consider yourself lucky. Sometimes, things accidentally fall or get knocked into the toilet, but other times it’s the result of a mischievous child throwing everything imaginable into the bowl. Regardless of the cause, there are ways to recover what’s stuck.
What Happens to Flushed Items?
Items that are supposed to be flushed go through the toilet’s trapway, into the drainpipe, and then into the sewer system. However, objects that should not be flushed can also follow this path and sometimes get stuck in the trapway. If these items manage to pass through, they can contribute to blockages further down the line. But if they get stuck, there’s a chance you can retrieve them.
The best option for retrieval is to remove the toilet and access the item from the bottom. However, this is inconvenient and expensive if you need to hire a professional. Luckily, there are other methods to try before resorting to such drastic measures, and they often work. Before attempting anything, use a disposable container to remove water from the toilet bowl and wear plastic gloves.
How to Retrieve Flushed Items
Here are a few methods for retrieving items from the toilet:
1. Use Your Hand
If you can see any part of the item, simply grab it and pull it out. If you can’t see it, try reaching into the bottom of the bowl and feeling for it in the trap. Pull it out if you can locate it.
2. Hook a Coat Hanger
Straighten a wire coat hanger and create a small hook at one end. If you can see part of the item, try to catch it with the hook and pull it out. If not, carefully insert the hooked end into the trap and feel for the item. If you make contact, avoid pushing it further in. Instead, try to maneuver the coat hanger hook beneath it and then pull it up. Be gentle to avoid scratching the surface of the toilet.
3. Try a Toilet Auger
If you don’t already have one, rent or buy a toilet auger with an open coil head designed for retrieving objects. A toilet auger has an extendable and flexible shaft that is operated with a crank mechanism. Once you feel it grabbing onto something, retract the auger using the crank, hopefully retrieving your item in the process.
4. Use a Wet/Dry Vac
Without any attachments, insert the hose of a wet/dry vacuum into the drain. If you make contact with the item, stop and run the vacuum until you hear the object being extracted. If you can’t find it in the vacuum’s collection tank, check inside the hose where it may be trapped.
5. Remove the Toilet
If none of these techniques are successful, you will need to take out the toilet. This process involves turning off the water supply, emptying any remaining water from the bowl and tank, disconnecting the water line, unscrewing the toilet base, and lifting the toilet onto its side so that you can view the trapway from underneath the base. Toilets are extremely heavy, so you may require assistance. If you are not comfortable with this task, it is advisable to contact a professional.
Prevent Future Issues
Children sometimes find it amusing to throw toys, car keys, earrings, and other objects into the toilet. Depending on the child, you may be able to explain that this is not allowed and resolve the issue. However, in some cases, you may need to install a lock on your toilet seat until the interest in tossing objects into the toilet diminishes.
It is not just children who cause problems. Adults sometimes treat the toilet as a garbage can, although nothing dissolves as easily as toilet paper. Do not be deceived by products labeled as “flushable” on their packaging. To prevent serious plumbing problems, remember that only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed, and avoid putting the following items into the toilet:
- Tissues and paper towels
- Disposable diapers
- Disposable wipes
- Cotton products, such as cotton balls, cotton pads, and cotton swabs
- Tampons and sanitary pads
- Food
- Pet fish
- Cooking grease
- Chewing gum
- Hair
- Condoms
- Cat litter, even if it claims to be “flushable”
