Help! Getting Behind the Bed!

[Griffin NoName]

I have a thread catcher which was hanging over my bed head holding useful things like my spectacles. The pin cushion end was hanging down behind the bed head acting as ballast. Tonight I took the last thing out so it was empty, and the whole thing upped and slid down behind the bed head. I assume falling to the floor, although faintly possible it might be stuck some part way down. I can't see. My nose is too big to see down the narrow gap with a torch.

The problem is my bed is immoveable. The only way I could get behind it would be like with a fishing rod. I need something long enough to poke around and try and hook or grasp the thread catcher to raise it up. I thought of a wire coat hanger unwound but that would not be long enough.
Likewise the things people use to pick up stuff off the floor aren't long enough. My walking stick is not long enough.

[Swatopluk]

First use a hand mirror to locate the position (it can also reflect the torch light down).
You can't get at it from the side? (a photo from the crime scene would be useful).
Do you have a broomstck with an eye on he end? You then could attach the coathanger to that (otherwise adhesive tape might serve*).

*if you have really good adhesive tape, that could be used as the catcher itself.

[Sibling DavidH]

I've got a flexible wire thingy with a claw on one end and a button on the other to work the claw.  I think you see them in pound shops IIRC.

Edit: ha! found a picture -

[Opsa]

Another idea might be a curtain rod with a wire hook taped to the end. Or maybe you could slide two curtain rods back there and work them like chopsticks.

[Griffin NoName]

Have already tried the hand mirror trick. doesn't work as gap too narrow (about 1") and drop too far. One's head has to be so close to the wall that is impossible.

Side access is obscured by immovable furniture on oneside and movable furniture and loads and loads of junk on ther side (to the extent where it becomes reality TV calling in the Hoarder Psychotherapist (UK only?). Side access would be easiest option if I could ever clear all the junk (unlikely).

I might be able to do the broom and hanger trick.

The flexible wire with claws looks good, but possibly not long enough. May investigate as would be useful thing to have anyway (old age).

I have a long curtain wire but not a rod.


Thanks to all.

[Griffin NoName]

I've got a flexible wire thingy with a claw on one end and a button on the other to work the claw.  I think you see them in pound shops IIRC.

Edit: ha! found a picture -

  Ordered this exact one from Amazon..uk  cost me £1.99 incl. postage :-)

It's 600 mm - may just be long enough but I have another place I constantly drop things down which is a total pain and it will be a great help there.

[Aggie]

Side access is obscured by immovable furniture on oneside and movable furniture and loads and loads of junk on ther side (to the extent where it becomes reality TV calling in the Hoarder Psychotherapist (UK only?). Side access would be easiest option if I could ever clear all the junk (unlikely).

That's a good idea.  Feign that you are a hoarder, and become a 'success story' by letting them convince you to clear out all your junk for you.

[Griffin NoName]

Feign? I'm the real thing.

[Sibling DavidH]

I was thinking of training a hamster to "fetch", but it would probably take a while.

[Swatopluk]

I was thinking of training a hamster to "fetch", but it would probably take a while.

Could be difficult to get a 1" hamster 

[Roland Deschain]

Griffin, I can understand the difficulty you are having with the size of the gap and not being able to move stuff out of the way, but i'm not sure how an unwound wire coat hanger couldn't be long enough. How deep is this hole behind your bed? Are you having to go at it from the side, in which case, aren't those immovable objects in the way? I'm imagining an arrangement something akin to The Princess and the Pea.

Could be difficult to get a 1" hamster 

Have you ever tried hunting for a lost hamster and thought, "No, it couldn't get under that gap," only to find it had? Hamsters can fit anywhere. Ask Richard Gere.

[Swatopluk]

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!
(Could not resist, sorry)

[Roland Deschain]

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!
(Could not resist, sorry)

That's ok. I fart in your general direction!

[Griffin NoName]

Yes, definitely Princess and Pea - had to build woolly ramp to climb in (search for thread here for details LoL)

[Aggie]

I suppose shifting the mattress is out of the question? Going in below the headboard might be the easiest option.