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Washcloth down bathtub drain
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blerg_blerg
Feb 21, 2013, 2:49:41 PM2/21/13
to
So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup of a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
Frank
Feb 21, 2013, 3:41:03 PM2/21/13
to
On 2/21/2013 2:49 PM, blerg_blerg wrote:
> So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup o
f a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
>
Sulfuric acid drain cleaner can dissolve/degrade cotton.
> So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup o
f a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
>
chaniarts
Feb 21, 2013, 4:27:01 PM2/21/13
to
On 2/21/2013 12:49 PM, blerg_blerg wrote:
> So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup o
f a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
>
shop vac
> So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup o
f a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
>
denni...@gmail.com
Feb 21, 2013, 4:29:26 PM2/21/13
to
On Thursday, February 21, 2013 2:49:41 PM UTC-5, blerg_blerg wrote:
> So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup of a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
There's nothing special about your tub drain. It makes a sharp 90 degree turn toward the wall. That is perfectly normal. It meets up with the overflow tube where it turns again and drops down into a P-trap, which stays filled with water to prevent sewer gasses from coming up and stinking up your apartment.
> So I had a plumber over to my condo unit (2nd floor) to fix a toilet issue (water spot on ceiling of unit below me). That night, no joke, a baby washcloth went down our bathtub drain. I have tried fishing for it with a plastic drain hook tool with no luck (it doesn't appear to be flexible enough to navigate the pipes). I can see water in the drain pipe, about 3-4" down. When taking a shower now, water fills up to about ankle depth in about 10-15 minutes but then seems to drain within the same amount of time. Some approaches to try that I've read about are various drain clog cleaners or bleach to try and dissolve the washcloth or using a wire hanger (all of ours are plastic) or plumber's snake to fish it out. I've also read that it might be easier to remove the stopper linker and go straight down that overflow pipe. I've tried to read a lot about this but am left wondering how my situation being on the 2nd floor of a condo/former apartment differs from the drain pipe setup of a normal house. For instance, my bathtub drain does not feel like it goes straight down very far before it takes a hard turn, presumably toward the wall. I guess I'm just looking for any suggestions/tips. I'm trying to resist calling a plumber since I already spent $250 that I didn't have on one earlier that same day and the guilty party in this case was a family member who was babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
The washcloth is probably wedged at the second 90 degree turn, or in the P-trap itself.
Stormin Mormon
Feb 21, 2013, 4:54:01 PM2/21/13
to
Car battery acid did a job on my coat, one time.
I think you've got the right idea.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kg60nc$3n8$1...@dont-email.me...
I think you've got the right idea.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kg60nc$3n8$1...@dont-email.me...
Stormin Mormon
Feb 21, 2013, 4:55:57 PM2/21/13
to
If this were my job to fix, I'd bend out a drain snake, so the end of the
wire sticks forward, and try that, see if I could pull the fabric back.
Second try would be plumbers force cup, with the overflow vent closed with a
rag, held tightly on.
I'd go for sulfuric acid as the third try.
"blerg_blerg" <joshua...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:db0bf8d3-d21b-473b...@googlegroups.com...
wire sticks forward, and try that, see if I could pull the fabric back.
Second try would be plumbers force cup, with the overflow vent closed with a
rag, held tightly on.
I'd go for sulfuric acid as the third try.
"blerg_blerg" <joshua...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:db0bf8d3-d21b-473b...@googlegroups.com...
Oren
Feb 21, 2013, 6:03:58 PM2/21/13
to
On Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:49:41 -0800 (PST), blerg_blerg
<joshua...@gmail.com> wrote:
> babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
... borrow a wire hanger
<joshua...@gmail.com> wrote:
> babysitting our daughter and giving her a bath. Thank you.
Chuck it up in a drill and go after the cloth.
HeyBub
Feb 21, 2013, 6:36:20 PM2/21/13
to
Frank wrote:
>
> Sulfuric acid drain cleaner can dissolve/degrade cotton.
Yep. Or a strong base such as lye.
>
> Sulfuric acid drain cleaner can dissolve/degrade cotton.
Frank
Feb 21, 2013, 6:52:01 PM2/21/13
to
Sulfuric acid is actually used to clean wool of vegetable matter like grass.
As I recall cotton is mercerized with strong caustic.
Message has been deleted
Oren
Feb 21, 2013, 7:19:11 PM2/21/13
to
On Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:53:48 -0500, gfre...@aol.com wrote:
>I have had some luck with a flexible 4 jaw retriever
>Push the plunger in to expand the jaws, poke it in until you feel the
>cloth and pull it out. It may take a couple tries
Like this tool.
<http://www.otctools.com/newcatalog/products/4783_9062.jpg>
>Push the plunger in to expand the jaws, poke it in until you feel the
>cloth and pull it out. It may take a couple tries
Like this tool.
<http://www.otctools.com/newcatalog/products/4783_9062.jpg>
NotMe
Feb 21, 2013, 7:25:51 PM2/21/13
to
Message has been deleted
gregz
Feb 21, 2013, 9:28:40 PM2/21/13
to
Greg
Stormin Mormon
Feb 21, 2013, 9:50:34 PM2/21/13
to
Hydroxides react with grease to form soap.
Sulphuric acid reacts with cellulose, cotton, and sugars to break them down.
If the missing baby item is cotton, sulphuric acid might work.
Sulphuric acid reacts with cellulose, cotton, and sugars to break them down.
If the missing baby item is cotton, sulphuric acid might work.
"Frank" <frankdo...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:kg6btg$v7k$1...@dont-email.me...
>> Sulfuric acid drain cleaner can dissolve/degrade cotton.
>
>
Andy
Feb 21, 2013, 10:07:39 PM2/21/13
to
If it's PVC, no problem.
You said a wash cloth went down the drain, so putting in a coat hanger bent to an angle can work wonders in getting it out.
Take care.
bob haller
Feb 21, 2013, 11:11:06 PM2/21/13
to
If the OPs home is very old there may be no P trap but a drum trap
instead.....
instead.....
nestork
Feb 22, 2013, 1:35:48 AM2/22/13
to
If you have a wet/dry Shop style vaccuum cleaner, I would try to vaccuum
that wash cloth out of the p-trap.
--
nestork
blerg_blerg
Feb 22, 2013, 10:00:21 AM2/22/13
to
Situation has been resolved. I went out looking for a wire hanger but apparently no one sells them anymore. So instead, I bought a 15' drain snake for $11, stuck it in there and a few feet down hit paydirt. It came out very easily. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
Stormin Mormon
Feb 22, 2013, 10:12:58 AM2/22/13
to
You da man! We never doubted you.
At least, I don't think we did?
At least, I don't think we did?
"blerg_blerg" <joshua...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:dc5616d9-a81e-4b2b...@googlegroups.com...
jeff_wisnia
Feb 22, 2013, 11:18:53 AM2/22/13
to
blerg_blerg wrote:
> Situation has been resolved. I went out looking for a wire hanger but apparently no one sells them anymore. So instead, I bought a 15' drain snake for $11, stuck it in there and a few feet down hit paydirt. It came out very easily. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
>
Don't you feel great when things do work out?
> Situation has been resolved. I went out looking for a wire hanger but apparently no one sells them anymore. So instead, I bought a 15' drain snake for $11, stuck it in there and a few feet down hit paydirt. It came out very easily. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
>
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.
Marilyn & Bob
Feb 22, 2013, 1:14:03 PM2/22/13
to
On 2/22/2013 10:00 AM, blerg_blerg wrote:
> Situation has been resolved. I went out looking for a wire hanger but apparently no one sells them anymore. So instead, I bought a 15' drain snake for $11, stuck it in there and a few feet down hit paydirt. It came out very easily. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
>
Next time you need a wire hanger, just get one from your local dry cleaners.
> Situation has been resolved. I went out looking for a wire hanger but apparently no one sells them anymore. So instead, I bought a 15' drain snake for $11, stuck it in there and a few feet down hit paydirt. It came out very easily. Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
>
--
Peace,
bobJ
Holly
May 25, 2017, 1:44:06 AM5/25/17
to
replying to blerg_blerg, Holly wrote:
So glad I'm not alone! Babysitter let a baby cloth go down the tub drain and
now we're in the same boat.
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/washcloth-down-bathtub-drain-737597-.htm
So glad I'm not alone! Babysitter let a baby cloth go down the tub drain and
now we're in the same boat.
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/washcloth-down-bathtub-drain-737597-.htm
Gordon Shumway
May 25, 2017, 12:29:04 PM5/25/17
to
On Thu, 25 May 2017 05:44:02 GMT, Holly <caedfaa9ed1216d60ef...@example.com> wrote:
>replying to blerg_blerg, Holly wrote:
>So glad I'm not alone! Babysitter let a baby cloth go down the tub drain and
>now we're in the same boat.
Thanks for sharing.
>replying to blerg_blerg, Holly wrote:
>So glad I'm not alone! Babysitter let a baby cloth go down the tub drain and
>now we're in the same boat.
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