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Original poster

A plate has fallen down the back of the loo - how can I get it out?

464 replies

ahundredtimes · 28/10/2008 17:26

And not just any plate - this is a plate painted by ME for dd's hair bands! I did it when she was painting a mug for dh- the man was so impressed he put it in the window. [preen]

It's annoying.

Now the cistern of the loo is built into a tongue and groove type wall affair, and can only be accessed from the top. The plate has fallen down, below the cistern, onto the floor below.

I can't reach it, nobody can reach it.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
covertmission · 28/10/2008 18:06

re suck: well you need to attach some sort of flanged mini plunger down with a long thin pipe attached. When plunger touches down you need to start sucking and maintain suction throughout manouver whilst simultaneously lifting up plate.

SharpMolarBear · 28/10/2008 18:05

eh?
I'm with the guinea pig idea, can't get any more weird

KatyMac · 28/10/2008 18:05

Get 2 wire coat hangers

Unravel them to make 2 long u shaped pieces

Put one piece at each side of the plate & gently move towards the middle of the plate simultaneously

Gently lift holding the plate between the two pieces of wire

snigger · 28/10/2008 18:04

God, I don't want this thread to end. Ever.

thesockmonsterofdoom · 28/10/2008 18:04

vacuum cleaner.

snigger · 28/10/2008 18:03

Can you get a coat hanger, twist it into just short of the plate circumference, sellotape it to something long, and loop it under the bottom of the plate, dragging it skywards?

LostProphet · 28/10/2008 18:03

what was wrong with my fabric suggestion like a thin towel or summat

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 28/10/2008 18:02

A sucker?

it is in the recumbent position, on its back though.

How do I get suck?

OP posts:
LostProphet · 28/10/2008 18:02

at the handle being broken being boring, but the rescuing a plate clearly not

covertmission · 28/10/2008 18:02

This is a long shot but do you have a circus guinea pig you could send down behind the loo?

snigger · 28/10/2008 18:01

This is going to end up being the inspiration for a channel 5 movie....

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 28/10/2008 18:01

[bows to ingenious toilet Duck placement]

It fell down, because I had to take the panel off because the handle had broken - long, boring story - and then the iron was about to fall over, so I moved it but then the plate fell down. It appears to be unbroken.

miraculous, artistic plate.

OP posts:
LostProphet · 28/10/2008 18:00

I'd love a reason to say wainscoting.

Can you get a wide bit of material looped up, sort of hook it round the plate and carefully lift out?

MatNanPlus · 28/10/2008 17:59

not sure a grabber is long enough, maybe cut a hole in the wall low down and get someone else to repair it

is the plate undamaged?

covertmission · 28/10/2008 17:59

Is the plate in an erect or recumbent posture?

The grabby prongs for the elderly do come with rubberised pincer ends, however this is all null and void if the plate is lying down. Then you will need a sucker, with added suction tube with which to create a vacuum.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 28/10/2008 17:59

Oh quite heavy.

I chose quite a large plate to paint.

It's got an edge that goes up though - to catch small escaping hair bobbles - so prongs would have something to hold on to, but I can't believe they could hold a plate?

Or a platter. [gets above oneself]

OP posts:
snigger · 28/10/2008 17:59

Kudos on the impromptu Toilet Duck placement.

How the FECK did the plate get down there? Is it broken?

thesockmonsterofdoom · 28/10/2008 17:59

no idea, your going to have to destroy your (vey nice by the way) bathroom with a sledgehammer.

snigger · 28/10/2008 17:57

How heavy is it?

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 28/10/2008 17:57

Right.

So you see the blue bottle of Duck cleaner at the top? That was specially positioned by me to show where the panel you remove is. That is our entrance.

Then it's down there, behind the white tongue and groove wall, on the floor, behind the wainscoating.

OP posts:
LostProphet · 28/10/2008 17:56

so where is it??

pania · 28/10/2008 17:55

Use a vacuum cleaner hose?

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 28/10/2008 17:55

I have taken a photo - is it on my profile?

I can't think what I can use to get a grip [as it were]

Do you think those Help the Aged prongs will do it? Do they have a good grip? It keeps going on about keys, I don't want keys I WANT MY HAND PAINTED HAIR BOBBLE PLATE BACK.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 28/10/2008 17:47

could you dangle a small child down there perhaps?

LostProphet · 28/10/2008 17:47

Ah cross posts - the issue has been clarified.

I would go with the wood ripping tbh

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