Stuck basin plug

[ChaoticOfShropshire]

hi, can anyone help?
We have a plug that is a disc that rotates to hold in the water, it has got stuck due to very mucky kids washing muddy hands, we have tried everything we can think of, Stanley knife, wd40, limescale remover, but it's still stuck fast. Has anyone had this happen before, got any ideas?

Hi, yes removed all the water, and run a Stanley knife all round to no avail. Also, we can't remember which side to push on either, so don't know if we're making it worse by pushing on the wrong side.

If I were you I'd take off the trap under the sink and push it up from underneath - never had one that works that way though, so I might be wrong.

Hi, thanks both, we took a hammer to it in the end and it's worked, probably not the best idea though. Turned out to be paintbrush hairs from the decorator last week that got caught, not the children's grubbiness after all.
Another disaster averted thanks to DH :)

We had this recently with our flip basin waste. V annoying, took ages to get it free again, also had to go for the hammer solution.

In case someone still finds this useful just found an easier way...

1. completely empty sink (I used a flexible silicone cup and sponge for last bits)
2. Fill with a kettle full of boiling water and leave for a few mins
3. Return armed with eg a rubber-bottomed screwdriver (with a bottom narrow enough to direct force on one side of plug) NB rubber will stop you marking the plug. Metal eg hammer will scratch or dent)
4. Tap one side of plug firmly with base of tool to release. If you can see a lower side so much the easier as that’s where to direct your Mum power ;)
5. Clean whole area with soap (fish out any stuck hairs from the murky depths with other end of screwdriver while you’re there...) and run cold water over whole thing before getting on with the rest of your day

Good luck! X