Dropping anything into the toilet is a major concern and it becomes increasingly troublesome when that item is large.
As a result, tossing a rag into the toilet and then flushing can become a serious problem. You will not have the rag go through into the drain meaning it’s going to get trapped inside the pipe.
This is why anyone saying they accidentally flushed a rag down the toilet needs to find a solution as soon as possible.
If you accidentally flushed a rag down the toilet, start by turning off the water using the shutoff valve. Now, reach into the toilet trap to see if the rag can be pulled out. If not, use a plunger. The last option is to empty the bowl and then use a drain snake to pull the rag out.
Go through each option until the rag is out of the toilet bowl.
You need to be patient as this is not going to be easy. The main issue with rags in the toilet has to do with how they soak up water like a sponge. This makes them heavier and much harder to pull out.
As long as you go through the steps mentioned here, you will get the rag out as soon as you want to.
This guide will explain more on what to do if you accidentally flushed a rag down the toilet.
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How To Remove A Rag Flushed Down The Toilet
1. Close Off Water Using Shutoff Valve
If you flushed a washcloth down the toilet, you will need to immediately close off the water using the shutoff valve.
This will be somewhere close to the toilet where the pipe is.
The reason for doing this is to make sure water doesn’t keep flowing into the toilet. You will want to avoid having to deal with a spraying toilet in the middle of a removal.

2. Reach Into The Toilet Trap
When the water is off, you are now going to attempt to reach into the toilet trap.
This is inside the toilet hole that you see when you look into the bowl.
In general, rags are big enough where they can snag in the toilet trap. This is ideal as you are going to find it easy to reach in with anything that has a hook to yank the rag out of the toilet.
This will only take a few seconds and will release the clogged toilet.
Take your time during the removal process and use something that has a hook. This is the only way to get the rag out of the toilet trap as soon as possible.
3. Use a Plunger
Let’s assume the rag is not coming out.
You will now need to move on to the next step, which includes using a plunger. This will help create suction and that is going to release the rag causing it to come up.
You should always be patient when it comes to this as using a plunger is one of the most important things a person can do.
It often helps with clogged toilets and is not going to leave a mess behind. You will also not have to empty the toilet bowl during the process.
It is these details that matter when you are figuring out more about what to do and what not to do.

4. Empty Water Tank & Use Drain Snake (If Necessary)
The final option is to empty the water tank and then use a drain snake.
With a drain snake, you will have the chance to push further into the drain and hook into the rag that is trapped inside.
Take your time with this step and make sure the water tank is empty. This will ensure you don’t leave a mess when you push the drain snake in.
Final Thoughts
I accidentally flushed a rag down the toilet!
If you accidentally flushed a rag down the toilet, turn off the water valve, use a hook to pull the rag out of the toilet trap. If this doesn’t work, use a plunger and attempt to create suction to get the rag out. When everything else fails, empty the toilet tank and use a drain snake to go deeper.
These are the options that are available to you when dealing with a rag that is stuck in the toilet.
The rag will be heavy due to it being soaked in water. Remember this when you are looking to hook the rag out.
If you are patient, it will come out and it won’t require a lot of effort.
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