Help! Pop up sink plug stuck

[monniemae]

We have a teeny sink in downstairs loo, built in so I can't access the underneath. We hardly use it. DP filled it full of bleach (no idea why he couldn't just wipe it with an effing sponge).

Now it transpires the plug is stuck. I don't know if it was installed without the pop up stick thing (plumber was an idiot) or if it was lost later eg when the tiling was done. But I can't get the plug out!

Have tried sticking other long things into the hole where the lever should go; have tried a plunger; have tried sticking sharp things around the plug to pull it up; nothing works.

Any other ideas? Is there a special plumbers tool for this kind of thing? hopeful face We have spent £1k on bullshit going wrong with the house & cat this month, I'm 38 weeks pregnant and at this rate will be back at work by October

Try a stanley knife or a strong magnet or something with a smaller suction cup than a plunger (like the ones on a toy archery arrow).

Presumably you've used a cup or jug to bail the water out of the sink first?

Do you have any of this plunger type things that some light bulbs come with? I think it would probably be the right size.

Thanks for these suggestions
No it's bleach in the sink - shall try and ladle that out now I guess and see if the pressure reduces
Have tried knife etc
Mineofuselessinformation - what plunger type things? Are these for spotlights? We don't have any but useful tip if so, I shall investigate! thanks

Ours has done this twice.

Sponge all the bleach out first...

Ice on the metal to make it contract worked once

Second time DH nearly killed himself with the effort managed to twist it a little while wearing rubber gloves (he had to scratch the surface with wire wool first to get a grip!) and break the seal and I think he also rubbed a bit of wd40 in too.

There are a few more tips online

Magnet unlikely to work unless v strong. Ditto suction.

Brilliant skischool, thank you will try the ice trick

So embarrassed. Turns out we have a "push to shut, push to open" pop up waste. My dad told me this. I pushed the plug, it popped up. I must have imagined the missing lever.
Thanks for all the tips though