# I dropped the toilet handle down the toilet. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499 "2016-03-29T02:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brooklyn84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@brooklyn84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brooklyn84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/1 "2016-03-29T02:39:18Z")
Sooooo I had finished doing my business and i went to flush and the handle came off and went straight into the flushing water :smack::smack::smack::smack: . Did I break the toilet?Should I call a plumber? What do I do? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/2 "2016-03-29T03:04:30Z")
You broke the handle. There’s no reason to think you broke anything else. The handle is probably stuck in the U-bend, just out of sight. You can probably retrieve it without much difficultly. Whether it can be refitted or needs to be replaced depends on how damaged it is. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/3 "2016-03-29T03:20:17Z")
You should be able to fish it out. When you open the tank lid there will be model numbers on the back wall behind the flush valve( the part the flapper is attached to) bring those numbers and the old handle parts plus the mfr. name is usually between the two bolts that hold the seat to the bowl. This assumes you have a plbg supply place not a home center. If you can’t find that, Korky makes a couple decent quality universal types but you’ll have to fiddle with them. Remember the nut that holds the handle to the inside of the tank is left hand thread. ---
**Author:** ![core](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@core](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/core)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/4 "2016-03-29T08:19:40Z")
> [@MikeG](#): > > Remember the nut that holds the handle to the inside of the tank is left hand thread. In the southern hemisphere I think they are right hand threads. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/5 "2016-03-29T13:32:27Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > You broke the handle. . Vandal! ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/6 "2016-03-29T14:54:11Z")
Oh … the handle to the _toilet_ … whoosh … just buy another at the hardware store, but this time buy one made of metal, not plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/7 "2016-03-29T18:04:59Z")
Hopefully you can get the handle out of the toilet. Just go to the hardware store and buy a new handle. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/8 "2016-03-29T19:33:26Z")
You can remove the tank, pull the toilet, turn it upside down and shake it. Buy a new wax ring at the hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![core](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@core](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/core)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/9 "2016-03-29T19:55:14Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > You can remove the tank, pull the toilet, turn it upside down and shake it. > Buy a new wax ring at the hardware store. While you’re at the hardware store pick up a 5 gallon bucket in case you have to yack. This is particularly important if this is the only bathroom in your house. Learned that the hard way. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/10 "2016-03-29T20:15:23Z")
> [@core](#): > > While you’re at the hardware store pick up a 5 gallon bucket in case you have to yack. This is particularly important if this is the only bathroom in your house. Learned that the hard way. All I’ve ever seen is dirt. It may have been poop years ago. Oh, and pieces of a coffee mug. The handle would rattle around whenever the toilet was flushed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dropped-the-toilet-handle-down-the-toilet/750499/11 "2016-03-29T20:32:31Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Vandal! You win the thread.