Removing an Object from a Toilet

Cell phones and wallets are among the many objects that can fall into the toilet.

When a toilet seat lid is open, foreign objects sometimes accidentally fall into the toilet drain. If a cell phone, hair brush, makeup kit, child's toy or some other object is flushed down the toilet and creates a clog, using a toilet plunger or auger in the bowl will likely not be enough to retrieve it. To reach the item, you will find easier access in removing the toilet and approaching the object from the opposite direction.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Wet/dry vac
• Newspaper
• Rubber gloves
• Toilet auger
• Putty knife
• Replacement wax ring

Instructions

1. Shut off the flow of water to the toilet by twisting the shut off valve all the way to the right. Remove the tank lid and flush the toilet to remove the tank water. Soak up the water still in the tank after the flush, along with the bowl water with old towels or use a wet/dry vac.

2. Unscrew and remove the supply hose that connects the tank to the shut-off valve. Use an adjustable wrench and disconnect the hose from the tank only. Pop any bolt caps off the base of the toilet, and remove the nuts from the bolts using the wrench. The toilet is now ready to be removed.

3. Stack newspaper onto the floor near the toilet, creating a padded spot to set the toilet. Grip the toilet behind and below the seat area, and lift straight up until the toilet clears the bolts in its base. Lay the toilet on its side atop the newspaper. Put on rubber gloves.

4. Remove the object if it is trapped in the flange. Look into the toilet trap through the drain hole, or horn, on the bottom of the bowl. The trap is the toilet's exit passageway. Reach into the passageway to retrieve the object out of the toilet. If the object was not flushed far enough through the passageway for you to reach it, use step 5.

5. Insert the end of a toilet auger into the passageway from beneath the toilet. Turn the auger handle clockwise, snaking the auger cable up through the curve of the passageway. Push the object through into the bowl. Remove the object. Turn the auger handle counter-clockwise to pull the cable back in. Be careful not to scratch the toilet surface when using the auger.

6. Scrape the wax from around the toilet horn on the bottom of the toilet, using a putty knife. Also scrape the flange clean of wax. Press a replacement wax ring on top of the flange. Lower the toilet onto the flange, making sure that the horn connects correctly with the flange and wax ring and the bolts pass up through the holes in the toilet base. Reinstall all the disconnected parts of the toilet and turn the shut off valve to the left, but not all the way, to open the toilet's water supply.

References

• 411 Plumb: How Come My Toilet Always Clogs?