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As toddlers start to figure out how the toilet works, they take it upon themselves to run scientific experiment after scientific experiment to confirm their hypotheses as they watch the water spin in circles on its way down the drain. And when you have twins, there are twice as many studies that must be performed.
To be sure they understand the mechanics behind it all, toddlers tend to make it their mission to grab something—anything—and flush it down the toilet as fast as they can, before their horrified parents or caregivers can stop them.
If you've ever been there, you've probably asked yourself (if you actually saw the item that got flushed), "Should I roll the dice and flush again and hope it's small enough to make it through the pipes? Or do I actually have to stop everything and find a way to retrieve whatever this is to prevent any possible damage to the drain system?"
In poker, when you have a flush, you can take that chance. In real life, when you have an unexpected flush, it's not worth the risk.
In poker, when you have a flush, you can take that chance. In real life, when you have an unexpected flush, it's not worth the risk.
As painful and frustrating as it may be, it's best to retrieve whatever got tossed and flushed before it becomes an even bigger headache down the road, when it's further down the drain.
If you have the right tool for the job, it's relatively easy to do. Having this handy gadget at the ready can also save you an unwanted bill from a handyman to clear the drain.
Foreign object fiasco
In the early morning chaos of getting everybody's teeth brushed and clothes on, one of our twin toddlers had a narrow window of opportunity, and he took it at warp speed.
I heard the flush, glanced up from where I was currently wrangling a half-clothed toddler a few steps away, and my stomach dropped because I instantly knew he'd successfully completed his objective.
When I saw his empty hand was no longer holding the toothbrush he'd been clutching mere moments before, I knew exactly where it was, even as I asked him where it had gone.
His index finger pointed to the one place I'd hoped it wouldn't.
His index finger pointed to the one place I'd hoped it wouldn't.
His face filled with joy while mine filled with dread. Realization set in that instead of tackling dishes and catching up on laundry while our twins were at daycare that day, I'd be heading to the hardware store to procure a tool and prevent permanent damage to our plumbing.
Finding the right tool for the job
I knew we had two options:
Push the object further to clear the S-Trap immediately behind the toilet (some toilets have a P-Trap (haha) instead of an S-Trap, so make note of that when you're investigating your situation) and hopefully get the object out of our hair, or
Pull it backward and out of the system altogether, which seemed like the smarter (and, really, the only) option because if it's not in the pipes, it can't somehow get stuck further along and cause further problems that nobody wants to deal with.
Plungers, whether they're your standard, old-school type you use with good, old-fashioned hand power or your fancy, new-fangled types that're powered by air pressure, are designed to build up pressure in order to push clogs forward and further into the system to clear the pipes.
Depending on what's been flushed (if it's something valuable, like a sentimental ring you're hoping to retrieve, or, in our case, a long, skinny object that could still be an obstruction, no matter how far down the pipes it gets), you don't want to push them further into the system.
A drain snake or drain auger also won't do what you need, depending, again, on what objet has been flushed. While these tools are designed to clear clogs and pull items (like chunks of hair or wipes that shouldn't have been flushed) backward, they can't clutch onto items like a bendable drain grabber tool can.
If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, find yourself a gadget like this bendable grabber. Better yet, have one on-hand, so that you don't have to trek to the store when this happens to you.
TwinsyTwins Shop
Magnetic Four-Claw Bendable Grabber Tool with LED Lights by Housolution
For Tricky Toilet Retrievals
This grabber tool is perfect for retrieving small items that have accidentally been sent down the drain. It's designed for use in sinks and toilets, with a flexible metal hose that can bend along and follow the pipes of your plumbing system. One end has a handle that you push to open a retractable claw on the other end to grasp objects. It's also got a magnet incorporated into the design, so you can use the magnet or the claw to grab small things that have fallen into hard-to-reach areas. Built-in LED lights make it easier to see in low-light areas.
Even if your toddlers don't manage to flush something unsanctioned, they may inadvertently knock something that shouldn't have been on the counter down into the toilet, and if you've got this tool sitting in your cupboard, you'll be ready to retrieve it before it's too late.
The retrieval
When you're ready to dive in, make sure you turn off the water source for your toilet (there will be a water shut-off valve behind your toilet that you can twist into the off position).
Though you might be tempted or on auto-pilot mode, don't flush the water that's still sitting in the toilet bowl from your toddler's infamous flush. Doing so could push the object further into the pipe or cause it to become more entangled. Instead, use a shop vac to remove the water from the bowl.
Then, grab your newly acquired trusty grabber tool and gently send it down the pipe. It's bendable, so it can follow the curves of the S pipe. Listen carefully as you guide the tool along the pipe, and when you think you're in the right spot, use the handle to open the claw-end and try to grab the object.
It may take a few tries, but you should see success pretty quickly.
Once the water was removed from the toilet bowl, I was able to retrieve our toddler's toothbrush in less than 90 seconds. I was actually done so quickly that I really DID have time to still get laundry and dishes done before it was time for daycare pick-up.
Once you've taken your moment to celebrate your victory, don't forget to turn the water valve back into the open position, flush to fill the bowl back up with water, and be on your merry way.
And maybe, like us, keep an EXTRA watchful eye whenever anyone's around the toilet. At least, now you know you've got the right tool for the job, if you should need it again.
Or, maybe do yourself a favor and grab one of these, while you're at it, juuust in case.
Have your twins ever flushed something they shouldn't have down the toilet? What was it? Were you able to retrieve it on your own, or did you have to call in a plumber? Let us know in the Comments section below or connect with us on Instagram to share your thoughts!
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