Hand-spin drain cleaners feed their flexible, kink-resistant cable into drain lines where it bends around curves and works through traps. Also known as drain snakes, they extend the cable from the drum body until the cable head pushes into and clears the blockage. They retract the cable and wind it onto the drum for storage. These hand spinners are commonly used to clear hair, sludge, and residues from sink, tub, and shower drains.

Manual augers push their flexible, kink-resistant cable into toilet or urinal trapways to clear solid waste, wipes, feminine hygiene products, and other blockages. The cable retracts into the hollow, pole body of the auger, then pushes out and into the fixture's trapway. Sliding the cable back and forth drives the cable head through the blockage to break it up. A protective sleeve at the base of the pole prevents scratches on the fixture.

Drain sticks slide their semi-flexible shaft into drain lines and clean out hair, sludge, and residues between the drain opening and the end of the trap. They clear short runs of pipe in sinks, tubs, and showers that don't require the extra flexibility or extended reach of a hand-spin drain cleaner. Their solid shaft rinses off after use and has no coils to trap debris, making them easier to clean than drain cables.