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12 Ways of unlocking bathroom doors
Read the article to learn several lifehacks of unlocking bathroom doors in case it is necessary. It will be useful not only for those who are in this situation right now but also for those who are not because you can read about some instruments for unlocking doors here and bring them to the bathroom. Of course, we hope that such a situation will never occur to you, however, you will be ready to deal with it!
There are several types of locks used in the US. Usually, privacy locks are used for the bathroom and security locks are for any other door in the house. It is good news because the privacy locks are easier to unlock.
In case you tried all the methods, mentioned below and didn’t achieve the result, there’s always an option to call the fire department or a locksmith. However, believe me, it is quite easy to work to open bathroom door locked from inside when you have a necessary instrument.
Types Of Privacy Locks
In general, there are 3 basic locks types for bathroom doors that exist in the US:
- Turn button privacy lock– It is one of the most popular and the cheapest locks in the US. Both to lock and unlock the door you have to turn the button from the inside.
- Privacy push pin (button) lock– An extremely convenient type of lock which is locked by pushing the button and unlocked by just opening the door from the inside.
- Privacy bolt with a lever (knob)– A quite expensive lock type that is similar to a deadbolt. To lock and unlock the door, you should turn a lever from the inside. To unlock the door from the outside, it is necessary to use a flat screwdriver.
Instruments for unlocking bathroom doors
There’s a list of diverse tricks how to unlock a door without a key that almost everyone can do with ease, they include ones that tell how to unlock a bathroom door with no hole, how to open a locked door from the outside, and how to unlock bathroom door twist lock.
1. Credit card
There are a few subtleties in how to open a door with a card.
Success depends both on the kind of bathroom lock and the kind of card. To unlock the bathroom door locked from inside with the help of a card is not a good choice if the door has a deadbolt. It is recommended to use this method for doors with a latch bolt, a spring lock, or a lever-type handle.
The card itself must be solid, but flexible to avoid its breaking. A credit card or some store card will be a perfect variant.
The process of opening the door with a card consists of putting the card between the frame and the lock and pushing the card back in the door.
2. Substitute key
The easiest method how to unlock bathroom door is to use a spam key. However, in case you don’t have such a possibility, there are several working instruments that can help you, too.
· Eyeglass Screwdriver
This way on how to unlock doors with holes is suitable for those who have doors with a privacy handle. To open the door with an eyeglass screwdriver, put it in the hole of the handle and push it till the end. Then twirl the screwdriver in order to insert it into the groove. End with your work when you hear a click sound.
You have to use only a flat-head eyeglass screwdriver because a bigger variant will not go into the hole of the door handle.
· Paperclip
Here’s an instruction on how to open a locked bathroom door with the help of just a paperclip.
A paperclip perfectly suits for unlocking the doors because of its stiffness, flexibility, size, and flat form. You can use 2 paper clips if it is possible: it will be more convenient.
All you need to do for preparation is to straighten one paperclip in such a way that it forms an absolutely straight line and to bend another one. After that, insert both paper clips in the lock and then twirl the straight clip around until the lock is opened.
· Tension Wrench And A Paperclip
One more way how to open a bathroom lock with a paperclip includes a tension wrench which is a hex key.
Firstly, put a tension wrench in the hole of the lock, pushing it to achieve maximum deepness. Then put a paperclip in the lock, too, and try to open the door by twirling it. You will hear a click when the lock is opened.
3. Metal coat hanger
Keep a coat hanger in the bathroom? Then you should know how to unlock a bathroom door with it. However, the method is suitable only for doors whose frames don’t stick out on the inside and don’t obstruct the side gap, for example, for doors with a latch bolt.
To unlock the door, insert the hanger in the gap and push the lock back in the door. If the hanger is quite thin, you can try to use it like a paperclip for other types of locks. Moreover, it is a metal hanger, untwist it and paste both edges in the lock hole.
4. Pick the lock
It may seem to you that the procedure of picking the locks is really hard, but if you know detailed instructions, it is quite easy and quick work. For picking, you will need an Allen wrench which you paste into the lower part of the lock hole.
Use 1 of these 2 ways of picking the lock:
- Scrubbing method– Suggests a simple scheme: you push the wrench in the lock hole and twirl it moving up.
- Pin by pin method– Paste the paper clip in the lock hole, too, not loosening the wrench and carrying on with pressing it. Then try to lift a paperclip.
5. Butter knife
It is quite strange if you find a butter knife in the bathroom, however, it can be used from the outside and it is a really good instrument for unlocking. Insert the knife in the lock hole properly and twirl it until the sound. Here it is! The door is opened. Be careful with the knife not to get injured. It is better to take a dull knife if possible.
6. Bobby pin
One of the most famous techniques of unlocking the door is of course opening it with a bobby pin.
You will need 2 bobby pins. Bend the first one in such a way that its edge (about 0.4 inches or 1 cm) is perpendicular to the other part of the bobby pin. The second bobby pin must be straightened into one line.
Then insert a bent pin by its edge in the lower part of the lock hole and a straight pin in the upper part. Wobble the bobby pins while you rotate them. The process may take some time, but it is quite an efficient way on how to open a locked door.
That’s it! Now you know the method of unlocking the doors from the films.
7. Foot
Possibly the following way to open a locked door is the easiest of all. There are no tools needed for it. No scrupulous work will be included. However, there are a few moments to make a success in the operation.
Firstly, estimate your powers and sturdiness of the door correctly not to get injured, the material of the door should be weak. Secondly, don’t forget that the door has to open on the outside, not on the inside. Otherwise, it is practically impossible to open the door even if you’re really strong.
The technique of unlocking assumes kicking in the area above the doorknob since it is the weakest part of the door.
By the way, make sure that the floor is dry not to slip on it.
8. Cord
In case you have a window on the door top, you can think you know how to open a door because this option is exactly for you.
Make a big slipknot of the cord if necessary. Stuck a cord through a window, throw it on the doorknob, and pull it until the door is opened. Take notice that this method suits you only if the door can be opened by pulling the doorknob upwards.
If you have a window in the lower part of the door and the door is opened by pulling the doorknob downwards, try to use the cord, too.
9. Remove the hinges
If you can’t use other methods or if you made failing tries, there are tougher ways on how to open a locked door which assumes more physical power than scrupulousness, and it doesn’t matter what kind of lock the door has. For this method, you have to have a flathead screwdriver and a hammer with you.
Put a screwdriver in the opening between a bottom knuckle of the hinge and a pin. Then knock the screwdriver in the hole with a hammer trying to push the screwdriver inside. When it goes in the hole enough, repeat this procedure with the rest hinges and take the door off.
10. Remove the door handle
Here’s one more ruining method you can try to unlock the interior door. You will need only a screwdriver and maybe a drill. Use one of these instruments to turn the screws of the doorknob off. Then put a screwdriver in the lock hole and twirl it until the click sound.
11. Drill
Do you keep a set of tools including the drill in the bathroom? Then there’s a way on how to open a locked bedroom door for you. However, it ruins the lock, so use it unless other harmless ways work.
Take notice that you have to drill above the shear line which means the top of the lock hole. Choose the smallest drill bit to begin with and take bigger if necessary in the process. When the hole is drilled, open the door by twirling a screwdriver in the lock.
12. Hammer
As a last resort, use a hammer as an instrument for opening a locked bathroom door. The scheme is easy: just knock the doorknob until it falls down. You have to be quite strong to be able to do it.
Summary
It is necessary to keep some instruments in the bathroom which can help you to deal with the situation in case you find yourself locked out of the bathroom.
