I have a two year old who got into the bathroom yesterday and flushed a regular light bulb down the toilet.. however the bulb is stick and just out of reach of my hand.. I tried to break it with a hanger and a couple other various things.. much to my dismay they did not work. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to unclog the toilet? I was going to try the wet/dry vac tomorrow and see if it can suck it up close enough to grab... and he sprayed clorox all over my room and ruined all of the bedding, carpet and towels in the room. Unfortunalty there is no fix for that...

Thanks

Jenn

Ah... 2yo and toilets...

I guess this seems too obvious, but have you tried a plunger? The older type that's just like a suction cup, not the one w/ the extra rubber on the bottom. Maybe any decent suction cup (like the ones that come w/ those hooks attached... ) Should stick even under water.

This is a really tough one. Even breaking the light bulb is going to be tough.

I have an idea of how to break the light bulb, but I'd practice on one first and I'm not sure how well it would work. Actually, I have two ideas:

I'll give you the easier one, but wear goggles and heavy gloves. Use an automatic center punch. There is a couple here: Sears.com

Why not purchase a closet auger,(see image), bust that sucker up, pull back and retrive the screw base fron the bowl and then flush the rest of the broken glass out into the main? Sound like a plan? Good luck, Tom

Light Bulb is lodged inside the trap. Just like Tom said: buy 5' auger. Auger will break the bulb and you flush the remains down the drain. Also you may remove the toilet, flip it over and remove the bulb by hand.

I think you guys might be surprised just how durable a light bulb is when you want it to break although the closet auger stands a chance too. You can also break it thermally. I sometimes cut glass that way. You cause a local hot spot and then cool the spot with a Q-tip dipped in cold water.

You should NEVER have toxic cleaning solutions where a child can get them. Put child safety latches on the cabinet doors. You are lucky that he did not drink the clorox, or you might be jennmomofone.

Cheers, Tom

I like the shop vacum, if that doesn't work try the toilet auger, if that doesn't work try a spring loaded center punch. If you can touch the light bulb you should be able to break it with the punch, just push it against the bulb. Should be able to purchase at HD or Lowe's.

That's what I said in post #3. You said it better with pictures.

Hi guys it looks like the problem is resolved some how and the bulb is gone some where, Jenn has not responded after the first post, Thanks.

John