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How to recover your wedding ring from the drain!

Oh no! You dropped your wedding ring down the sink drain!! Fear not! I've got ya' covered!

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We all have rings and we all have sinks. What happens when the two mix?

We all have rings and we all have sinks. What happens when the two mix?

Some of us take our rings off to take a shower, wash our hands or have a one night stand. Just kidding about the hand washing. So what will you do when you drop it down the drain?!

Some of us take our rings off to take a shower, wash our hands or have a one night stand. Just kidding about the hand washing. So what will you do when you drop it down the drain?!

Firstly, if the water is running, turn it off immediately! Very important! The water pressure can wash your ring further down the pipes, past the point of no return!

Firstly, if the water is running, turn it off immediately! Very important! The water pressure can wash your ring further down the pipes, past the point of no return!

Under the sink you'll see some pipes. The J-shapes pipe is called the "trap". This is because it traps the nasty sewer smell from coming up and traps wedding rings from going down. Lucky you!

Under the sink you'll see some pipes. The J-shapes pipe is called the "trap". This is because it traps the nasty sewer smell from coming up and traps wedding rings from going down. Lucky you!

Traps are on bathroom sinks as well as kitchen sinks. They can be metal or plastic (PVC = poly-vinyl-chloride). Sorry, i guess thats the med student in me. Put a bucket under the trap to catch water.

Traps are on bathroom sinks as well as kitchen sinks. They can be metal or plastic (PVC = poly-vinyl-chloride). Sorry, i guess thats the med student in me. Put a bucket under the trap to catch water.

Unscrew the plastic fasteners connecting each end of the trap to the other pipes. They should loosen by hand. If they don't, maybe you're turning them the wrong way, or maybe you'll need a wrench.

Unscrew the plastic fasteners connecting each end of the trap to the other pipes. They should loosen by hand. If they don't, maybe you're turning them the wrong way, or maybe you'll need a wrench.

After you unscrew the top fastener, it should pop up like this. Water will likely not leak out, as this end of the trap is elevated.

After you unscrew the top fastener, it should pop up like this. Water will likely not leak out, as this end of the trap is elevated.

Try to do the other end. If it gives you trouble, it's probably because some idiot (in this case me) over tightened it, or even crossed the threads.

Try to do the other end. If it gives you trouble, it's probably because some idiot (in this case me) over tightened it, or even crossed the threads.

If you have to, carefully use channel locks to loosen it up. Remember it's plastic, so be easy.

If you have to, carefully use channel locks to loosen it up. Remember it's plastic, so be easy.

If the rear trap fastener is still jammed and you don't have a wrench, here's a trick...

If the rear trap fastener is still jammed and you don't have a wrench, here's a trick...

Loosen the fastener connecting the straight PVC pipe (above the trap) to the metal pipe (entering the bottom of the sink bowl). Grab the straight PVC piece and slide it up towards the metal pipe...

Loosen the fastener connecting the straight PVC pipe (above the trap) to the metal pipe (entering the bottom of the sink bowl). Grab the straight PVC piece and slide it up towards the metal pipe...

This will disconnect the straight PVC pipe from the top of the trap.

This will disconnect the straight PVC pipe from the top of the trap.

Grab the trap and twist it to the side.

Grab the trap and twist it to the side.

This should loosen the threads of the fastener up enough to unscrew it the rest of the way by hand.

This should loosen the threads of the fastener up enough to unscrew it the rest of the way by hand.

Once you've removed the trap, get ready for your just reward!

Once you've removed the trap, get ready for your just reward!

If it's not in the trap, it's probably stuck higher up in the pipe. Look down the drain with the trap off and you should see it. Use a coat hanger to fish it out. If not, well... Good luck with that.

Congratulations! You did it... Hopefully. Any questions, just ask! -Med School Mike www.MissionMedSchool.com

Congratulations! You did it... Hopefully. Any questions, just ask! -Med School Mike www.MissionMedSchool.com

  • A sense of calm
  • 1.0 Bucket
  • Channel lock wrench (optional)