What Should You Do if Your Child Flushes a Toy Down The Toilet?

Picture this: You're enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet, sipping your coffee, when you hear a flush followed by a giggle. Your heart skips a beat, and you rush to the bathroom only to find your toddler grinning triumphantly beside the toilet. "Mommy, look! My toy went swimming!"

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If you’re a parent, this scenario might sound all too familiar. Yes, kids are fascinated by toilets, and sometimes their curiosity leads to flushing down something they shouldn’t — like their favorite action figure or a tiny rubber ducky. But before you resign yourself to calling a plumber (and draining your wallet), take a deep breath and follow these steps.

Get That Toy Out! Here's a Step-by-Step Guide

Removing a toy from a clogged toilet can be an adventure that calls for some tools, a bit of patience, and maybe a pair of rubber gloves. Let’s walk through the process step-by-step:

Things You'll Need

Before you begin your mission to rescue the toy – and your plumbing system – you’ll need to gather a few tools and materials:

• Rubber gloves: Trust us, you’ll want these

• A bucket and a cup: To scoop out excess water

• A plunger: The trusty tool for any clog

• A coat hanger: Straighten it out for better reach

• A closet auger: Also known as a toilet auger, this is a long, flexible tool designed specifically to unclog toilets

• Towels: To handle any mess that may spill out

• A flashlight: To get a good look inside the toilet bowl

Step 1: Don’t Flush Again!

This is crucial. When you discover a toy has been flushed, resist the urge to flush again to see if the toy goes down. Additional flushing can worsen the clog, push the toy further down the toilet drain, or cause an overflow. If the toilet bowl is already full, turn off the water supply valve located at the base of the toilet to prevent any mishaps.

Step 2: Check the Toilet Bowl

Put on your rubber gloves and shine a flashlight into the toilet bowl. If you can see the toy or part of it, you might be able to reach in and pull it out. Use a cup to remove any excess water from the toilet to get a better look. If the toy is within reach, grab it with your hands or use the coat hanger to hook it out.

Step 3: Try a Plunger

If the toy isn’t visible but the toilet is clogged, it’s time to use a plunger. A flange or toilet plunger is best for this situation, as it creates extra suction in toilet bowls. Position the plunger over the drain hole at the bottom of the bowl so that the flange goes a little further into the hole, and give it a few firm pushes.

The suction created by the plunger might be enough to dislodge the toy and bring it closer to the surface where you can grab it. If the toy gets dislodged, great! But if you’re not making progress after a few tries, it’s time to move on to the next tool.

Step 4: Use a Closet Auger

A closet auger, or toilet auger, is specifically designed for these situations. Insert the end of the auger into the toilet bowl and push it gently further into the drain. Turn the handle to extend the auger into the toilet’s S-bend, the most likely place for a toy to get stuck. The auger’s coil will either push the toy through the drain or, ideally, snag it so you can pull it back out. Turn the handle slowly and feel for resistance. If you feel the toy, carefully retract the auger. With a bit of luck, the toy will be hooked on the end.

Step 5: Removing the Toilet

This step is for those who are brave and have tried all the above methods without success. If the toy is lodged too far for the auger or plunger to reach, you may need to remove the toilet. This isn’t as daunting as it sounds, but it does require some effort:

1. Turn off the water supply to the toilet and flush to empty the tank and bowl as much as possible.

2. Use a wrench to remove the nuts that secure the toilet to the floor.

3. Gently rock the toilet back and forth to break the wax seal, then lift it off the drain.

4. Once the toilet is removed, you should be able to see and retrieve the toy from the drainpipe.

5. Replace the wax ring before setting the toilet back in place, and reattach the nuts to secure it.

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What if the Toy Didn't Clog the Toilet?

Sometimes, a flushed toy doesn’t clog the toilet immediately but disappears down the drain. While you might breathe a sigh of relief when the toilet continues to flush normally, there’s still a chance that the toy could cause a problem further down the line.

Small toys might pass through the toilet and plumbing without causing issues, but larger toys could become lodged in the pipes or even the main sewer line, leading to a bigger and more expensive problem.

It’s a good idea to monitor your toilet’s performance over the next few days. If you notice any signs of a slow drain, gurgling sounds, or unusual water levels, it’s possible that the toy is causing a partial blockage. In such cases, using a closet auger or calling a professional plumber to inspect the plumbing might be necessary to prevent a full-blown clog.