I had someone look underneath, the pipe doesn't come apart, I am not handy and not wanting to pay to have someone cut the pipe. I tried the vacuum cleaner trick, didn't work, Haven't run any water. Tried gum on a stick, the gum fell off. Tried magnet on a stick, the magnet broke. Any other ideas?

There should be P-Trap under your sink. P-trap is the "U" shaped drain pipe. It should be removable. It almost always is. Your earring is most likely in that "U" shaped pipe. Unscrew the nuts. Carefully remove the "U" shaped pipe. Careful, it is full of water. Emptly "U" shaped pipe into bucket and see if you can find your lost earring. Reinstall trap. It is as easy as that. Back to you. Milo

My friend said it wouldn't unscrew or come apart at all.

Hello Verybusymom,

As Milo says your earing is in the P trap, normaly the P trap has two nuts to remove the trap see the image below, in your case please post a picture of the p trap that we will see and let you know how to retrive your earing, Thanks.

John

Just empty the P-trap into the bucket and the ring will slide out. Before you do that, unscrew the slip nuts (also known as 'slip cap' or 'blanking cap') and put the slip nuts into a cup.

If the slip nuts are impossible to loosen, a Slip Nut Wrench can be used.

I don't think you have a Slip Nut Wrench.

If they won't loosen, you may have to turn nut in other direction.

Hi Mom,
If you want to retrieve your earring then DO NOT RUN ANY WATER DOWN THE DRAIN. The nuts on the trap looses up counterclockwise. If youn can't remove the nuts the take a hacksaw and saw the trap out. It can always be replaced. Good luck, Tom

Counterclockwise from above?

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Originally Posted by Stratmando

Counterclockwise from above?

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Counterclockwise from any direction. Just remember this
Righty (clockwise) tighty** Lefty,(counterclockwise) loosey. Good to remember if you're a plumber. Cheers, Tom

Speedball.
Nuts and bollts work like that as well, Clockwise viewed from above is same as counterclockwise from below.
Counterclockwise from below or above? I am an Electronics Tech and see from both sides, can you clarify, or are you saying counterclockwise if viewing while looking up at the fittings? or counterclockwise as if you were looking through the sink. Or do you have to look at the fitting to see which way it loosens?

Post a picture of your piping.

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I am an Electronics Tech and see from both sides,

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Both sides of what? What's the problem here? Are you questioning right handed threads? Because if you are they do make left handed threads. A toilet flush lever comes to mind.

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Or do you have to look at the fitting to see which way it loosens?

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Any direction I look at a fitting, my friend, I can be sure it unscrews counter clockwise. Are you saying that electronics are different? I don't think so but even if they are what's that got to do with plumbing fittings? As a rule I respect your posts but I'm dammed if I can understand your argument on this one. What am I missing? Back to you, Tom

No, you're good, Im not explaining it correctly.
If you look at something straight on, left loosens, etc.
If you have a length of verticle or horozintal pipe with a fitting, depending on how it is installed it would determine which way loosens. If it is clockwise from above or from the left, it would be counterclockwise from below or to the right.Which IS opposite, not the same from any direction. Not trying to nitpick, trying to make it clear which way to turn for the Poster. And myself, for future reference.
I can tell by looking at it. Couldn't bet on it over the phone or internet, since it wasn't loosening, One way I thought, maybe froze, wrong tool, or wrong way?

I think I'm beginning to see where you're coming from. On a vertical pipe with a fitting I can look up and It unthreads counterclockwise but if I stand and look down it will unthread clockwise. Is that it? True, but in real life we \look at a vertical pipe straight on so the fitting will still unthread counterclockwise, And take a peek at any trap in your house. You're going to look at that sucker straight on which means the nuts unthread to the left. That's just the way plumbing works. You have yourself a good evening. Tom