If you have kids, chances are you’ll need to retrieve a toy or other small object from the toilet at some point. Most of the time, getting a toy out of the toilet is just an icky chore. If a child actually flushes the toy, though, you have a bigger problem. But don’t worry too much: If the method below doesn’t work, you can always get a plumber to do the job for you!

How to get a toy out of the toilet in 4 easy step:

1. Whether or not you know exactly what’s causing the blockage, your first job is to plunge the toilet. If you plunge the toilet and it flushes successfully several times, whatever’s clogging it might be gone. If it backs up again, you’ll need to move on to step two.

2. There are a few ways to remove a stuck toy from the toilet, but the easiest way is by using a "closet auger." A closet auger is plumbing tool with a piece of steel cable in a plastic tube, a crank handle at one end, and protective plastic at the other (to prevent scratching in the toilet bowl). The covered end of the auger is usually hooked to help you grab and retrieve whatever’s stuck in the toilet.

3. If you don’t have a closet auger, don’t be tempted to try this with another piece of wire or cable. If you use a coat hanger, for example, you run the risk of damaging the inside of the toil by scratching it. If you don’t have the necessary tools to retrieve the toy effectively, get in touch with a professional.

4. Run the auger into the toilet bowl until you feel resistance. Stop feeding the auger cable as soon as you feel resistance on the other end. This should be just enough slack for the cable to reach through the drain passage – no farther. At this point, reel the cable back until you snag the toy.

More often than not, you’ll have to repeat this process several times before you actually catch the toy. Once you get the object out, try flushing the toilet. Once it flushes properly several times in a row, you’re done!