From Personal Experience This Morning

A snake, or a plumbing snake or augur, is a long cable with an augur at one end and a crank at the other. Used commonly in plumbing, the snake is lowered into a sink or toilet drain pipe to free it from any blockage or obstruction causing the pipes to be clogged. There are two types of augurs: the long, more-familiar version, which is called a drain augur, and the less-familiar closet augur, which is shorter than the drain augur.

Step 1
Slowly lower snake into drain. In a clockwise motion, turn the augur's handle. Reposition the grip a few inches from the entry.

Step 2
Feed the snake down the drain until the augur reaches the blockage point. Continuously turn the snake and lift it up. This will dislocate the blockage.

Step 3
Repeatedly ram the snake through the blockage. Continue this up and down motion until the augur breaks through the obstruction.

Step 4
Lift the snake while pulling the blockage up through the drainpipe. Make sure that the blockage clears the drain hole and that the drain pipe is unclogged.

Step 5
Wipe the snake with an old towel or heavy rag as you pull it out of the drain. Clean up any mess with bucket and rags