How to Unclog a Rubber Toy From the Toilet

Get a toy out of your toilet.

Discovering that a toy has been flushed down the toilet is not a pleasant experience for anyone---especially when the toy has gone down too far to just pull it out. In this situation there is no alternative but to take the toilet up and remove the toy from underneath. You do not need to call a plumber to remove the toy. Taking up a toilet is a basic plumbing job that you can do yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Wet vacuum
• Wrench set
• Flat-tip screwdriver
• Putty knife
• Closet auger
• Universal wax ring

Instructions

1. Shut off the water supply to the toilet. The shutoff valve is located on the wall behind the toilet. Turn the valve as far as it will go to the right.

2. Flush the toilet to drain out as much water as possible. Use the wet vacuum to suction the rest of the water out of the tank and the bowl. You can also soak the water out with a sponge if you do not have a shop vacuum.

3. Loosen and remove the nuts from the closet flange bolts. The bolts are located on each side of the toilet and may be covered by a plastic cap. Pry off the cap with a flat-tip screwdriver to access the bolts. Place the nuts aside so that you do not knock them down the drain.

4. Lift the toilet straight up and pull it away from the wall so that you can lay it down on its side.

5. Scrape the old wax ring off the flange, and off of the underneath side of the toilet. Remove the plastic wax-retaining ring from the center of the flange. The flange is the metal ring that connects to the drainpipe in the floor.

6. Reach up into the toilet from the underneath side to retrieve the toy. Set the toilet upright to use a closet auger if you cannot reach the toy. A closet auger is a long, hand-held tool with a cable that moves down through the trap in the toilet while you turn the handle. Place the cable end of the auger into the toilet bowl and guide the cable through the trap. Turn the handle of the auger clockwise to extend the cable. The cable will move down through the trap and dislodge the toy so that you can reach it.

7. Place a new wax ring in the center of the flange and reset the toilet.

Tips & Warnings

• You can rent closet augers, or a small drain snakes, at tool rental stores.

References

• Basic Plumbing Repair: Toy Stuck in the Toilet
• James Dulley: How to Unstop Clogged Drains, Toilets and Sewers