Plunger

• The plunger is the most common, basic and inexpensive toilet drain clearing tool, and frequently is the most effective. The plunger's simple design consists of two connected components: a rubber, cup-like head and a straight wooden or plastic handle. The concave side of the plunger's head faces away from the handle. To use a plunger, place the its head over the toilet's drain opening and repeatedly push up and down in a "plunging" motion to force water and air through the drain to break up or loosen blockages.
  
  

Closet Auger

• Essentially a specially designed drilling tool, the closet auger's distinguishing feature is a flexible metal coil that winds its way through a toilet's pipes. A screw-like tip attached to the end of the coil grabs, pulls or breaks up blockages. At the end of the tool opposite the screw-like tip, the standard auger's coil attaches to a hand-crank. To use the closet auger, insert the coil into the toilet and force it down into the drain until it encounters the obstruction. Turn the crank to break up the blockage or grab the blockage and pull it out of the toilet.
  
  

Power Sewer Snake

• Like the closet auger, the power sewer snake, also called a motorized drain auger, roots through drains with a flexible metal coil and screw-like tip. Instead of a manual hand crank, an electric or gas-powered motor drives the rotation of the snake. Power sewer snakes typically don't enter a drain line through the toilet bowl, but access blockages from plumbing access points near the toilet, called "clean-outs."
  
  

Chemical Drain Cleaners

• Chemical drain cleaners generally are less effective at clearing toilet obstructions than tools that physically remove blockages. However, if allowed to stand in a blocked toilet bowl for extended periods, chemical cleaners can clear a clogged drain effectively. Many manufacturers offer enzyme-based cleaners as an alternative to acid-based cleaners. Enzyme-based cleaners essentially "eat-up" many types of blockages.