How do I get a credit card out of a toilet about to overflow after trying a plunger and snake??Help!!!!!!!?

Question

I have tried a plunger and a snake and a hanger but nothing seems to be helping. I don't know what to do and my toilet is about to overflow so someone please help. And I can't afford a plumber (college student). Thanks for your help

Ok my 3 year old was frantically waving his hands around trying to "scare mommy" and the next thing i knew the cc went flying off the counter into the toilet. I think when my friend used the snake it must have pushed the card further into the toilet because the hanger wouldn't even hook on it.

Answer 1

Two choices here - Do it yourself or the plumber. If you do it yourself
1) Shut off water at valve behind toilet.
2) Cup out the water in the toilet, when down enough use a towel to absorb th rest.

The card may be at the first turn and settle where you can get a hold of it. Antibac soap after that.
If you still cannot reach it....

3) Drain the flush tank the same way you did the bowl, disconnect the water supply from the tank, and set the lid off out of the way.
4) Two fasteners hold the toilet in place. Loosen these and remove nuts.
5) Careful now - Tilt toilet forward and becareful not to drop or put to much pressure on the tank section alone.
6) Set the toilet so that it is stable and you can reach up from the bottom and retrieve the card.

Once you have your card -

Go to the hardware store and pickup a new wax ring (that's the yellowish mucky gross thing between your toilet and the sewer connection). If the wax ring stayed in one piece put the toilet back on it's mount, tighten it up, re-connect the water supply t the tank, and turn the water back on.

Test flush the toilet - If the bottom leaks at all you'll need to replace the wax ring.

You'll need a pair of adjustable pliers, gloves, and a flat head screw driver.

Block out of your mind the potential odor and what toilets are used for and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

The final step is to unbolt the toilet, pick it up and turn it upside down (empty the tank first), and the reinstall it with a new wax gasket after clearing it from underneath.

However I don't really believe that it is not accessible to a rubber-gloved hand reaching in or that it can't be rammed further down so it falls into the drain. There is only one really narrow point and then the siphon shape is somewhat wider. If it got past the narrow hole then it is unlikely to be crosswise in the rest of the pathway and causing the blockage. I think you need to try snaking again. It is still easier than taking the toilet off. If the card was (unlikely) sideways then the snake should feel that it is there.

I hope you are using a toilet snake (has sharp screw tip on bottom and handle to turn it around in a round-metal holder) not an electricians snake (flat steep tape with bent end) because that is the only effective tool.

Answer 3

Dip the water out with a pan as far down as you can get it. The opening that you can't see is 2" in dia. The card is 2 1/2". It must be laying flat against the opening and blocking the paper. You are going to have to use the hanger, make a small hook and push it until you feel strong resistance. Twist the wire around until the card slips back to where you can reach it with you hands, or tongs. The plumber will do this first. If it doesn't work quickly for him, he will remove the toilet, turn it upside down and force the card out.

Answer 4

Not sure what you were doing with the CC in the bathroom? A mathematician would have worked it out with a pencil!

If you have a small hand, just reach up in there and remove it. You can scrub off afterward. Proper plunger action with a decent plunger might do it, but stands an equal chance of blasting it down the drain. Small hand retrieval is the most reliable bet.

Yucky but effective.

Answer 5

Personally, I'd try to grab the card with my hand because I'm less likely to push the card further down the drain than I would if I used some sort of tool. But if you have a set of tongs in your kitchen, you could always try to grab the card with that. Just throw away the tongs after.

Answer 6

Do you have the Toilet Scrubber? If not, maybe you can try BBQ Tonsels, they are long and you can use them to grip.

Answer 7

Put some gloves on that little ankle biter and tell' em to fetch it !

Answer 8

Ok, so gross, but have you tried to reach it with your hand? Then think...ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP.

By the way...how did it get in there anyway?

Answer 9

reach in and grab it :) coult try a childs toy 'extend a claw' .. .. happy plunging :D

Answer 10

call a plumber