The Best Tool to Unplug a Clogged Toilet

The best tool for unclogging a stopped-up toilet depends on the location of the clog. Clogs often occur at the top of the toilet's curved trapway, but may slip even deeper.

First Consideration

• When you find that a toilet is clogged, you do not want to flush again. This may be your initial impulse, but flushing will only lodge the blockage further in place while pushing the water up further within the bowl. The bowl then will overflow, creating more concerns over clean-up and possible water damage. A wise idea is to turn the toilet's shut-off valve completely to the right, preventing the toilet from being flushed until you unclog the toilet.

Shallow Clogs

• Use a toilet plunger, which is a staple in most bathrooms, as your first option. Do not be discouraged if the clog is not removed with just one round of plunging. Continued plunging may be needed for stubborn clogs, but remember that the suction created by the plunger will reach only so deep.

Deeper Clogs

• A toilet auger has a flexible cable that snakes its way through the toilet trapway and down into the drain pipe, making it more effective in reaching deeper clogs than plungers. The auger either breaks up the clog or allows you to pull the clog back out of the toilet bowl along with the auger.