Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of dislodging a toilet clog. While sometimes we inadvertently create a plugged toilet, sometimes our young children’s imaginations can also be the cause. It is amazing what they decided to flush, and the why remains a mystery.
In reversing the damage done to the toilet, we have devised several small, simple steps you can take to unclog just about anything from your toilet, including children’s toys.
If you’re wondering how to remove object from toilet trap, follow these simple steps. First, empty the water from the toilet bowl. Then, dislodge whatever is causing the clog by pulling it out with your hand or using a slip knot to attach a string to it and then pulling.
If that doesn’t work, try using a plunger, plumber’s snake, or declogger to remove the object.
How Do You Get an Object Out of a Toilet Trap?
Empty Water from the Toilet Bowl
You can remove water by using a disposable container or cup. We recommend that it is disposable due to sanitary reasons. While your dishwasher may have a sanitary cycle, it is still best that the cup goes straight into the garbage can.
If you do not have a disposable cup or container, the following will work equally well:
Soda can
Milk carton
Pop bottle (cut in half)
Coffee can
Make sure enough water is left in the bowl to cover a plunger.
Before plunging, remove the lid from the toilet tank. Close the toilet flapper. You can also turn off the toilet’s water supply by closing the shut-off valve.
Place towels/newspapers around the floor. They will absorb any splashing. If you smell gas, open the window and call a professional. The issue may be with the sewer.
Dislodging the Source
If you can see the object clogging your toilet, grab the end of it and remove it. Sometimes we can successfully remove the lodged object from the plugged toilet.
If you can see what is plugging the toilet but cannot get a firm grip on it, then try to hook it with a bent coat hanger. Try to remove it using an even, slow motion to dislodge it.
You may be able to remove it using a string with a slip knot. By looping the string around a leg, arm, or large part of the object, you may break it loose from the toilet.
Use a Toilet Plunger
If you cannot see the source or it is really lodged in there, use a plunger. Several good thrusts should suffice in removing the object. If it is a toilet paper clog, the forced applied to the plunger may be enough to remove the clog and force it down the drain.
Thoroughly clean the plunger after you finish to keep it in optimal condition.
Use a Drain Snake or Auger
Place the end of a toilet snake or drain auger in the toilet drain. Then, begin to twist. By doing this, you can potentially dislodge a toy or flush the clog down the drain. If the auger accidentally pierces the toy, you can retrieve it by taking out the auger.
If all else Fails, Use a De-clogger
If the item is stuck with toilet paper or other garbage, a clog can form, blocking the water’s flow. By using a de-clogger, it can get rid of the clog and free the item. The item may additionally slip through the drain pipe and move into the sewer. If this occurs there are other methods to dissolve debris including toilet paper in the septic system.
If you don’t have a de-clogger on hand, you can also try using vinegar and baking soda for drain opening with a clogged drain or clogged toilet. Dish soap can also be effective.
Add about a half cup to the toilet bowl and let it sit for about 30 minutes. The soap will sink into the drain and act as a lubricant to dislodge the clog. Then, dump about a gallon of hot but not boiling water into the bowl and flush.
Chemical de-cloggers are not highly recommended overall. They are fine on occasion, but they can result in plumbing system issues. De-cloggers use sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride to unclog drains. Combined, they generate a chemical reaction releasing heat.
The heat will dissolve organic matter and grease. The bleach will remove hair and soap scum. Some de-cloggers have peroxide, which coats pipes and gets rid of residue.
De-cloggers work on clogs by removing residue surrounding an item. It may give the impression that the plug is removed; however, the problem may return as a build-up from wastewater, and standing water can still build up, or a plumbing fixture or wax ring is blocking the pipe. If this occurs, you may require a plumber.
Additionally, if frequently used, they can deteriorate the pipes and do long-term damage. If you experience repeated clogs, call a plumber instead. It will be done correctly and will save money.
If using a de-clogger, select a natural one as they do not contain chemicals that are dangerous to your plumbing, the environment, or your health.
If you have called a plumber, alert them to the product you have used as it may cause a chemical reaction with the industrial products they use to unclog a drain tap. When done, use a toilet brush to clean the toilet to get rid of anything that backed up into the bowl and wipe down the toilet seat.
How Do You Clean a Toilet Trap? How Often Should You Clean Your P trap?
The toilet bowl trap is a curved pipe connecting the toilet to the plumbing. Drain clean requires an auger that is fed through a trap to remove clogs. Once clean, regular and low flow toilets are working optimally.
To clean it:
Hold the closet auger with the crank in one hand and the bottom shaft in the other hand. Hold it over the toilet with the end of the plumbing snake pointing upwards.
Place the snake’s bend end into the toilet bowl’s center, turning the crankshaft. The snake fed down into the piping. Turn the crank until the auger is three feet into the trap.
Reverse your direction. Pull the auger up to retrieve the entire length of the snake. Flush the toilet.
Lower the snake with the tip pointing upward. Put it into the toilet until it reaches the bottom. Feed it out, then remove it.
Feed it into the bottom of the toilet. The auger should go down the right side of the hole. Remove the auger. Flush the toilet once more. Now the trap should be clean.
How Do I Fix a Smelly Toilet P Trap?
You will need a bottle of drain cleaner for this issue. Pour it down the toilet to eliminate any residue that has accumulated in the toilet. Follow instructions closely on the bottle to ensure you wait the appropriate time before flushing.
The odor should disappear after a few days. Furthermore, a toilet trap should be cleaned out every 18-22 months if you want to avoid sewer line backup.
How Do You Fix a Dry P Trap? How Fast Do P Traps Dry Out?
Dry air can be the cause of a rotten egg smell in the home. In winter, toilet traps can dry up. When this happens, sewer gas permeates the air in the home.
The smell can come from multiple locations, including the garbage disposal, but the solution is easy.
Use an ice cream bucket and fill it. Pour that same amount down the toilet.
You can also run water from the bathroom sink for a few minutes, flush, then turn on the shower.
Toilet traps are prone to drying out in a month during winter. Periodically incorporating this method will prevent a problem from the beginning.
Owners should ensure p-traps are adequately vented. Check the pipe on the roof regularly to ensure that it is free from obstructions. If it is blocked, the drainpipe may push air through the p-trap. When the sewers are cleaned, the process can draw toilet vinegar water from the p-trap because it is blocked.
Conclusion
By doing these simple steps, you can remove most things from your toilet trap. If you are unable to, or the project is more involved than originally anticipated, then please consult a professional. It will save you both time, and money.
Additionally, proper maintenance of your toilet traps and drains goes a long way in eliminating a host of problems. In doing so, you will eliminate a sewer gas, rotten egg smell in the home, and prevent a potentially dangerous build-up of gas.
