[Opiecat]

My cat knocked a plastic bottle--about 2 inches X 3 inches into the toilet after I flushed, and incredibly, it went down. How do I get it out--I've used an auger, a plunging tool, and acetone (I thought I could break down the plastic). Nothing worked.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Opiecat:

If you reached up and through the toilet and could not retrieve the unit then most likely you will need to lift the toilet off the flange and turn toilet upside down to see if you can retrieve it from... the other end of the toilet (*yuck*)!

To do this, shut the water supply to the toilet and then remove all the water from the toilet tank and the toilet bowl (use a cup and sponge... or use a wet vac if you have one). Un cap the toilet bolts, loosen and discard bolts... but save caps, and then lift the toilet bowl up and off the flange. Check with light and mirror to be sure you cover all angles.

May need to use combo. Of the auger and fishing from botoom to finally maneuver so you can get bottle out.

To reset the toilet, clean the old gasket off the toilet base and the toilet flange, then get a new wax gasket and a pair of 5/16" johnnie bolts from a local home supply store, install bolts to center of flange, install wax gasket to base of toilet and then set onto flange. Set bowl down so it remains LEVEL with the floor through installation.

Tighten johnnie bolts a little at a time until cinched down pretty good. Wait 5 minutes and then cinch them down just a little bit more. Then CUT the johnnie bolts flush with the nuts and install the toilet caps. Attach water supply, turn water on and hopefully you will be all set.

Be careful here as you did use actone and some could still be trapped in the toilet... ;) Goggles are a good idea.

If you cannot find the bottle in the toilet then it has probably gone down the drain pipe and will need to be retrieved from a CLEANOUT in the basement..?

Let us know what you discover/think here...

MARK