Slowly lower the hooked end into the toilet drain (the big hole at the bottom). You’ll feel resistance if you hit the clog.

Remove the wire. Fill a bucket with water and pour it slowly into the bowl from waist height. If the water drains normally, success! Flush once to confirm. The Huge Warning: You Can Crack the Toilet The biggest danger here isn’t getting messy—it’s breaking the toilet.

If you hook something, carefully pull it up and drop it into a trash bag. Avoid letting it fall back in.