A clogged toilet can be an emergency if you don't have access to another bathroom. When your commode is clogged because your child put a toy down it, you may want to try fixing the problem yourself before contacting a plumber, especially if the bowl is overflowing. First, close the shut-off value, if you have one, then take these steps.
Reach In
If you can't see the toy clogging the drain, you may be able to feel it. As disgusting as it sounds, you can try putting on sturdy rubber gloves and reaching into the toilet drain through the bowl. Toys often lodge in the first bend of the drain, which you can easily reach on most commode models. If you can feel the toy but can't grab it, try a coat hanger or needle-nose pliers.
Use a Plunger or Snake
A plunger or snake can push the toy past the toilet's bends and into your home's drain pipes where it can wash away. Try a special toilet plunger, also called a flange plunger, for the best seal. If it doesn't work, try a toilet auger, also called a closet auger or toilet snake. This steel cable can force the lodged object down the drain and may also have a hook at the end that can pull the object back into the bowl where you can remove it.
Keep in mind that forcing the toy further into the pipes should only be attempted if you know it won’t cause a clog further in the system. Otherwise, you should always try to remove it instead. Snakes can also damage the pipes, so be very careful if you chose to use one.
Call a Professional
If you can't free the object after a few minutes, it's time to call a plumber. Professionals have more drain cleaning options than you can find at your hardware store. The plumbing company may use a camera to see the problem and an electric drain snake to clear it. They might also try forcing a high-powered jet of water through your plumbing. In some cases, they may have to remove or even replace the toilet to fix the problem, especially if your do-it-yourself efforts have damaged the inside of it.
Protect for the Future
Closing the toilet lid or bathroom door may be enough to prevent some children from putting toys down the drain again, but others can maneuver around these obstacles. If your child can raise the lid or open the door, consider an adhesive toilet lock that requires firm pressing to operate. When your child is older, you can get rid of the lock and follow the directions included with it to remove the adhesive residue.
If you didn't see a child put a toy down the drain, your toilet clog could have another cause, perhaps hidden inside your home's pipes dozens of feet from the bathroom. Do-it-yourself efforts can't reach those clogs, but a plumber can. Whether your kids caused your plumbing issue or something else did, it's fine to try to clear the clog yourself. If that doesn't work, depend on a plumber to get things moving again.
