Earring Down Plughole - Help, Please!

ampersand

It must have happened this morning during hairwash(long hair) and shower, noticed 1/2 hour ago and have just now found gold keeper still in bath.
I'm sure the earring is in the pipe out via external wall to immediate ground level drain, because there is autumn leaf sludge covering the grille which leads out into mains drainage. If it had washed through(little mother of pearl dove on chain)it would still be sitting there.
I have undone and lifted the plug surround and will shortly fish around with crochet hook, old toothbrush, bottlebrush etc.etc. and other homemade devices which I'll make with a wire coathanger.
I could also secure some net over the outlet and try to force more water through at a great rate but would appreciate ANY HELP.
Thankyou.

debbie42

My bath has a sink trap underneath it. You can only gain access to it by removing the side bath panel. If you can't retrieve your earring from the top then it would be worth taking the trap off, if you can, as it might be stuck at the bottom?

ampersand

Thankyou Debbie, I feared it might mean this - but may have to try.

Tom_Jones

Put a seive over the end of the pipe outside, fill the bath with water and then pull the plug that should flush it out.

ampersand

Thanks Tom, I'll try this now.
Just spoke with A who says panel will not be easy to remove and may suffer - he used nail gun which I don't have - and harder to replace unobtrusively.

27col

There will be some disgusting muck in the trap under the bath. If the object has not appeared further along the pipe, then it is likely that that it is caught up in this. The panel should not have been fixed so that it is difficult to remove. It is an Access panel, the clue is in the name. The fact that you do not have a nail gun is irrelevant, it should be fixed with screws or clips.
If the flushing techniques already suggested do not work, then you will have to bite the bullet and get access to the trap under the bath.

ampersand

Thankyou again - sadly, it did not appear in sieve and bath panel was fixed thus 5 years ago. It was a matter of doing the best possible with what was available.
Shall attempt removal demain.

Suzy_M

In the hope it may still be in the trap -

If you've got a wet and dry vacc try vacuuming the water out of the trap. Put the nozzle in the plug hole then wrap a damp cloth around it to form an airtight seal before switching on the vacuum - and put the plug in any other drain holes on the same run.

With any luck it may pick up the earring or at least you should be able to see if it is still in the trap when the water has gone.

ampersand

BIG THANKYOU TO ALL -
I am now wearing recovered earring.
Mess cleared up; all worthwhile.
Merci millefois.
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I'd never yet used the Wet function of my Vax - didn't even think of it being there!

Suzy_M

Well done - just don't forget to take your earrings out BEFORE you wash your hair next time or you'll be :mad:

ampersand

Suzy_M wrote: »

Well done - just don't forget to take your earrings out BEFORE you wash your hair next time or you'll be :mad:

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I will, Suzy, I WILL